Thursday, July 21, 2016

Workplace safety inspection finds Georgia's Chaparral Boats exposing employees to serious hazards; OSHA proposes $47K in fines




U.S. Department of Labor | July 21, 2016

Workplace safety inspection finds Georgia's Chaparral Boats exposing
employees to serious hazards; OSHA proposes $47K in fines

Employer name: Chaparral Boats Inc.

Inspection site: 300 Industrial Blvd., Nashville, Georgia 31639

Citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to the employer on July 18 for one repeated and two serious safety violations. OSHA initiated the follow-up inspection prompted by serious citations the agency issued in July 2013.

Investigation findings: OSHA issued the repeated citation for exposing employees to dust particulates above the permissible exposure limit. The agency cited the company for the same violation at this facility in December 2013. The serious violations include failure to provide medical evaluations for employees required to wear respiratory protection and not implementing engineering/administrative controls to minimize exposure to airborne particulates.

Proposed penalties: $47,000

Quote: "Like all employers, Chaparral Boats has the obligation to protect workers from known safety and health hazards such as excessive dust from cutting and grinding operations. Failing to do so can lead to long-term respiratory disease," said Kimberly Austin acting director of OSHA's Savannah Area Office. "All employers should take steps to anticipate, recognize, evaluate and control potential health hazards in their workplace."

The citations can be viewed at:
https://www.dol.gov/sites/default/files/newsroom/newsreleases/OSHA20161449.pdf

Chaparral is a leading manufacturer of fiberglass boats. The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Savannah Area Office at 912-652-4393.

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