January 11, 2017
By:
Walter G. Wright
Category:
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
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The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) issued a January 5th news release stating it had issued citations to Nemo Plastics (“NP”) for 24 alleged violations.
NP is stated to be a paper and plastics recycling facility located in Atlanta, Georgia.
NP’s process is described as involving receipt of waste cardboard and plastics to recycle the material for shipment to further processing companies to be reused.
The alleged violations include:
- Exposing workers to explosion and fire hazards by allowing combustible dust to accumulate
- Failure to provide employees personal protective clothing
- Failure to implement a hazardous energy control program to prevent machinery from starting up during maintenance and servicing
- Failure to evaluate spaces such as silos to determine if they were permit-required confined spaces
- Exposing workers to amputations hazards due to missing machine guards
- Failure to develop a noise monitoring program
- Failure to post combustible dust warning signs to inform employees of fire and explosive hazards associated with combustible dust
OSHA proposes to assess $133,443 in penalties.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
A copy of the news release can be downloaded here.
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