Employer name: Dupont Yard Inc.
Inspection site: 277 Landmark Road, Homerville, Georgia
Date inspection initiated: OSHA initiated the investigation on Oct. 21, 2014, after receiving a complaint alleging safety hazards.
Inspection findings: OSHA issued 14 citations, including eight repeated violations, to the employer for not keeping the floors and walkways free of debris, exposing workers to falls due to missing guardrails, as well as shock and burn hazards from uncovered wiring in junction boxes and electrical panels, and not providing workers with forklift training. Additionally, the employer was cited for not training employees to operate fire extinguishers and exposing workers to unguarded machine parts while the machines were in operation.
A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. Dupont Yard manufactures posts for agricultural projects, highway construction and produces timber and wood chips.
Since 2010, Dupont has received 47 citations for safety hazards at its Homerville, Georgia facility. The company has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. Under the program, OSHA may inspect any of the employer's facilities or job sites.
Quote: "Every day, Dupont Yard employees are being put at risk of serious injury, including amputations, burns or blindness, and in some cases even death," said Robert Vazzi, director of OSHA's Savannah Area Office.
"Management's continual disregard for safety standards is endangering workers, and as long as this is happening, OSHA will hold employers' accountable for providing a safe and healthful workplace."
Proposed Penalties: $179,388
View the citations here: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/DupontYardInc_1002675_0417_15.pdf*
Dupont Yard 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 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.