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Company Fined For Worker Safety Violations
The alleged failure of Total Environmental Solutions Inc. to protect employees
from a wide range of safety and health hazards has resulted in citations and
proposed penalties of $64,500 from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The company was cited for 11 alleged repeat violations and one serious violation
following an OSHA inspection that began Sept, 17, 2003. It covered 12 wastewater
treatment sites throughout Louisiana. Total Environmental Solutions, headquartered
in Baton Rouge, employs about 26 workers and provides sewer and wastewater
treatment services at sewage facilities throughout the state.
“This company’s failure to protect its employees will not be tolerated,” said
Greg Honaker, OSHA area director in Baton Rouge. “Platforms at the treatment
sites were riddled with holes large enough for workers to fall into sewage
pits or onto the ground. Breaker boxes were missing cover plates, exposing
workers
to energized wires. These types of violations were consistently found at each
plant OSHA investigated.”
The alleged repeat violations involved hazards for employees working around
wastewater treatment units. They included failure to provide adequate railings
to protect
against falls into the sludge tank from the elevated working platforms, inadequate
walking or working surfaces and failure to ensure adequate guardrails to
prevent falls.
Other repeat citations were issued for failure to assess hazards to determine
the need for personal protective equipment; not posting warning signs to
inform employees about confined space hazards; lack of confined space training;
failure
to train employees in energy-lockout procedures when performing electrical
work; failure to provide guards around moving parts such as pulleys; failure
to provide
and maintain cover plates on breaker panels; and failure to provide information
and training about hazardous chemicals used by employees.
One alleged serious violation was issued for failing to provide the proper
personal protective equipment to guard against exposure to sewage. A
serious violation
is one that could cause death or serious physical harm to employees from
a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
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