HUNTSVILLE, AL â Huntsville American Cabinets Inc., a company that prides itself of quality and craftsmanship, was cited for combustible dust and 20 other safety and health violations by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Proposed penalties total $54,000.
OSHA initiated its inspection in January as part of its National Emphasis Program on Amputations and cited the cabinet maker for 16 serious safety violations with penalties of $44,400 for failing to keep walls, floors and equipment clean and free from the accumulation of combustible dust; allowing more than 60 gallons of flammable liquid to be stored in cabinets; not selecting the correct personal protective equipment for workers handling chemicals; failing to have a lockout/tagout program to prevent accidental energy start-up; not having standard railings on the stairs; several electrical deficiencies; and amputation hazards associated with a lack of machine guarding.
Four serious health violations with $9,600 in proposed penalties are related to not providing hearing tests for employees exposed to noise levels over the permissible exposure limit; failing to develop a respiratory protection program; exposing workers to respirable dust 3.6 times the permissible exposure limit; and lacking a hazard communications program for handling hazardous chemicals.
"This company has jeopardized the health and safety of its workers by creating an environment where the accumulation of combustible dust could ignite and cause serious injuries," said Roberto Sanchez, OSHA's area director in Birmingham. "The accumulation of combustible dust and all hazards must be eliminated from the workplace."
For more information on combustible dust, visit http://www.osha.gov/dsg/combustibledust/index.html.
Posted by Rich Christianson
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