ATLANTA – American Air Filter Co. Inc. (AAF), a manufacturer of dust collectors and other industrial environmental control systems, has been cited for two repeat and five serious violations by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

American Air Filter faces proposed penalties totaling $64,040.

OSHA inspectors, prompted by a complaint, visited AAF's manufacturing facility on Weaver Way in Atlanta last August. The inspectors reported that workers were exposed to shock and burn hazards hazards from unused openings in electrical boxes and failing to use electrical equipment according to manufacturer guidelines. OSHA said is issued citations to AAF for similar violations in 2009.

The five serious safety violations alleged by OSHA against AAF include:

  • Failure to provide temporary workers performing cleaning operations with lockout/tagout training;

  • Failure to ensure abrasion protection on electrical wires entering the electrical panel for the conveyor system;

  • Failure to provide strain relief for the strip feeder and speed control boxes.

  • Exposing workers to struck-by and caught-in hazards while cleaning the conveyor; and

  • Exposing workers to shock and burn hazards from live wiring.