BROWNTOWN - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Tuesday it has cited Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries LLC for 28 - including three repeat - health violations, by exposing workers to crystalline silica dust and other hazards at the Browntown iron foundry following an August 2012 inspection. Proposed penalties total $274,500.
OSHA has also placed Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which focuses on employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. Under the program, OSHA may inspect any of the employer's facilities or job sites.
Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries employs about 200 workers at the Browntown facility, which specializes in producing castings in ductile and gray iron. It is operated by Southfield, Mich.-based Grede Holdings LLC, which has 21 facilities in the U.S., Europe and Japan.
Since 2010, the company has been inspected by OSHA 20 times, resulting in numerous violations, including seven safety violations and two repeat violations issued in November 2012 after a follow-up inspection at its Berlin plant. Those violations carried penalties of $56,300. Grede employs about 3,000 workers at the Berlin facility.
Kim Stille, OSHA's area director in Madison, said Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries is allowing previously cited deficiencies to continue.
The three repeat violations are for exposing workers to dust containing silica above the recommended exposure level; unguarded conveyor tail pulleys; and failing to apply energy isolating devices to equipment during service and maintenance.
A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Similar violations were cited in 2010 following an inspection at the company's Berlin plant and in 2009 at the Browntown plant.
A total of 24 serious violations include OSHA's confined space permit regulations; excessive accumulation of sand and dust; unguarded railings; failing to provide adequate personal protective equipment for eyes, hands, and face to protect against metal splash hazards; provide hazardous energy control procedures; provide employees effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area; and provide employee representatives with access to exposure records within a reasonable time frame.
Abatement dates range from Feb. 15 to May 6. Proposed penalties range up to $7,000 on individual violations.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its 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.
OSHA has also placed Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which focuses on employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. Under the program, OSHA may inspect any of the employer's facilities or job sites.
Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries employs about 200 workers at the Browntown facility, which specializes in producing castings in ductile and gray iron. It is operated by Southfield, Mich.-based Grede Holdings LLC, which has 21 facilities in the U.S., Europe and Japan.
Since 2010, the company has been inspected by OSHA 20 times, resulting in numerous violations, including seven safety violations and two repeat violations issued in November 2012 after a follow-up inspection at its Berlin plant. Those violations carried penalties of $56,300. Grede employs about 3,000 workers at the Berlin facility.
Kim Stille, OSHA's area director in Madison, said Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries is allowing previously cited deficiencies to continue.
The three repeat violations are for exposing workers to dust containing silica above the recommended exposure level; unguarded conveyor tail pulleys; and failing to apply energy isolating devices to equipment during service and maintenance.
A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Similar violations were cited in 2010 following an inspection at the company's Berlin plant and in 2009 at the Browntown plant.
A total of 24 serious violations include OSHA's confined space permit regulations; excessive accumulation of sand and dust; unguarded railings; failing to provide adequate personal protective equipment for eyes, hands, and face to protect against metal splash hazards; provide hazardous energy control procedures; provide employees effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area; and provide employee representatives with access to exposure records within a reasonable time frame.
Abatement dates range from Feb. 15 to May 6. Proposed penalties range up to $7,000 on individual violations.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its 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.