Alstom
Transportation said Thursday it is working to correct 17 violations
alleged against it by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health
Administration over employees at its rail-car factory in Hornell exposed
to unsafe levels of cancer-causing chemicals and to noise, including
not making sure employees removed protective equipment before entering
lunchroom and break areas, which left dining tables contaminated with
lead.
OSHA announced it responded to a complaint, inspected the facility and found employees exposed to cadmium, lead, nickel and silica beyond permissible limits. The agency said Alstom failed to provide changing and shower areas to employees working with cadmium and lead, increasing the chances of contamination outside the work area and exposure while eating or drinking.
OSHA said it found the company also did not provide medical surveillance to employees exposed to lead and cadmium, allowed chromium, copper fume, iron oxide and silica in sandblasting and welding operations to exceed permissible limits, and did not train painters to properly use or store respirators.
The inspections were conducted at various times from Nov. 30 through Feb 11.
Proposed fines total $105,000.
"Employers who work with hazardous materials like these need to first determine if the materials can be removed by replacing them with something less hazardous," said Chris Adams, Syracuse OSHA area director. "If not, employers must use the correct ventilation to reduce airborne exposure levels to below the OSHA limits. These hazards are preventable when employers ensure safety guidelines are followed."
Alstom released a statement Thursday saying it will respond to the notice through proper channels and is working on ways to address concerns OSHA raised.
“These include, among others, purchasing and installing additional mechanical and supplemental ventilation systems, regularly monitoring air levels, reviewing and updating training procedures, and providing retraining and education for employees,” the company said. “Alstom will continue to research additional improvements to ensure the health and safety of our employees – now and in the future.”
A subsidiary of Alstom SA based in France, Alstom operates the largest passenger rail manufacturing facility in North America producing more than 8,000 new or refurbished rail vehicles to customers across the northeastern U.S., including 1,000 subway cars to the New York City transit system. It says it had about $7 billion in sales in its 2015-16 fiscal year that ended March 31, up 12 percent.
OSHA announced it responded to a complaint, inspected the facility and found employees exposed to cadmium, lead, nickel and silica beyond permissible limits. The agency said Alstom failed to provide changing and shower areas to employees working with cadmium and lead, increasing the chances of contamination outside the work area and exposure while eating or drinking.
OSHA said it found the company also did not provide medical surveillance to employees exposed to lead and cadmium, allowed chromium, copper fume, iron oxide and silica in sandblasting and welding operations to exceed permissible limits, and did not train painters to properly use or store respirators.
The inspections were conducted at various times from Nov. 30 through Feb 11.
Proposed fines total $105,000.
"Employers who work with hazardous materials like these need to first determine if the materials can be removed by replacing them with something less hazardous," said Chris Adams, Syracuse OSHA area director. "If not, employers must use the correct ventilation to reduce airborne exposure levels to below the OSHA limits. These hazards are preventable when employers ensure safety guidelines are followed."
Alstom released a statement Thursday saying it will respond to the notice through proper channels and is working on ways to address concerns OSHA raised.
“These include, among others, purchasing and installing additional mechanical and supplemental ventilation systems, regularly monitoring air levels, reviewing and updating training procedures, and providing retraining and education for employees,” the company said. “Alstom will continue to research additional improvements to ensure the health and safety of our employees – now and in the future.”
A subsidiary of Alstom SA based in France, Alstom operates the largest passenger rail manufacturing facility in North America producing more than 8,000 new or refurbished rail vehicles to customers across the northeastern U.S., including 1,000 subway cars to the New York City transit system. It says it had about $7 billion in sales in its 2015-16 fiscal year that ended March 31, up 12 percent.