Recently, another company caught OSHA’s attention and was faced with $45,500 in fines for a number of violations.

Cranesville Block Company, a plant at Kingston, N.Y., had serious violations on chemical and electrical hazards and lack of equipment for workers. Specifically, OSHA found blocked exits, workers lacking safety glasses and gloves while working with acid, unlabeled containers of hazardous chemicals, unmarked electrical equipment, exposed live electrical parts and moisture in electrical equipment.

Edward Jerome, the OSHA area director in Albany, found the recurring nature of the hazards disturbing. He said,

Employees at this plant are exposed to the hazards of electrocution, burns, eye and hand injuries, and being unable to swiftly exit the workplace in the event of fire or other emergency. This employer must address these hazards effectively and continually now and in the future.”

Two repeat citations were issued against the company–$27,500 in fines, for the lack of personal protective equipment and the unlabeled containers of chemicals, as it had cited the company in 2009 for similar hazards at Cranesville Block’s Fishkill and Glens Falls, N.Y., locations and the issuance of six serious citations earned them $18,000 in fines. OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.

One means of preventing recurring hazards is for employers to establish an effective comprehensive workplace safety and health program involving their workers in proactively evaluating, identifying and eliminating hazards,”

said Robert Kulick, OSHA’s regional administrator in New York. Cranesville Block has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, participate in an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.