A Steel plant in Maine was cited by OSHA for alleged willful violations of electric shock, arc flash, crushing and laceration hazards.
“The sizable fines proposed in this case reflect the severity and recurring nature of a number of these hazards,” said William Coffin, OSHA’s area director for Maine. “For the safety of its workers, this employer must take effective and expeditious action to eliminate these conditions and prevent further recurrences.” The inspection was conducted under OSHA’s Site-Specific Targeting Program, which directs inspections toward workplaces with a rate of workdays lost due to injuries and illnesses that is higher than the industry average.
According to the agency, maintenance employees were not supplied with and did not use PPE to protect themselves against the hazards of electric shock, arc flash, and arc blast events while performing diagnostic work on electrical equipment, which resulted in one willful citation with a $70,000 fine.
Failure to correct other work site errors resulted in added fines.
Any doubts that your company is compliant? Your employees safe?
The 2012 Edition of the NFPA 70E recommendations are in print and take effect January 1, 2012.
Do you and your employees know all of the changes? Have they been implemented into your Electrical Safety Program? Do you have an Electrical Safety Program? Have you had Electrical Safety Training in the last year?
If the answer to any of those questions is no, then contact Macron Safety today!
Call 916-905-6535 or contact us to be certain you are in compliance.
