Engineered Precision Casting Co., Middletown, NJ, has been charged with 14 violations and proposed penalties totaling $303,106 by the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The citations are listed as two willful, 10 serious, and two other-than-serious violations of federal occupational health-and-safety standards.
During an inspection of the investment casting operation on March 9, responding to a complaint, OSHA inspectors concluded that Engineered Precision Casting was not providing workers with required personal protective equipment, and had not conducted hazard communication training on chemicals in use nor on energy control procedures (i.e., lockout/tagout) to prevent sudden machine starts or parts movement during machine service.
OSHA also concluded that EPCO had no inspection program for overhead cranes, nor implement a written respiratory protection program.
In addition, OSHA inspectors found that the foundry had not provided suitable emergency eye wash or body wash facilities for employees.
“The violations we identified at the Engineered Precision Casting Co. exposed their employees to serious risks of injury or worse,” stated OSHA area director Paula Dixon-Roderick. “Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure a safe and healthful workplace. This company must immediately address the hazards our inspectors found and take actions to prevent workers from suffering harm needlessly.”
According to OSHA regulations, Engineered Precision Casting Co. was allowed 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.