It seems even industrial giants such as Pepsi-Cola are falling victim to recent to the #5 most commonly cited violation : Lockout/Tagout procedures.
The Beverage Company based out of Pennsauken, NJ was recently given a hefty fine totaling in $195,000.
OSHA initiated its investigation on April 1 in response to a complaint alleging that employees were exposed to hazards when clearing jams on the machine used to stack and transport pallets. As a result of the investigation, OSHA issued three willful citations.
The willful violations include the company’s failure to provide training on lockout/tagout procedures, which prevent the inadvertent start-up of machinery or the release of hazardous energy, failure to apply lockout/tagout procedures when machines were being serviced and failure to properly guard machinery. OSHA issues a willful violation when an employer exhibits plain indifference to or intentional disregard for the law.
“The machine hazards identified at this facility pose a serious safety threat to employees if left unabated,” said Gary Roskoski, director of OSHA’s Marlton, N.J., area office. “A proven way of ensuring future abatement of all serious hazards, compliance with OSHA regulations and the prevention of employee injury, illness and death is for Pepsi-Cola and National Brand Beverage Ltd. in Pennsauken to establish an effective safety and health management system.”
For more information on preventing similar fines in your own companies, see :
- Common Workplace Safety Terms – Part 1
- What You Need to Know About Lockout, Blockout and Tagout
- Lockout/Tagout Basics
