OSHA proposes penalties of $216,307
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has found that Milwaukee metal fabricating facility Tramont Manufacturing LLC continues to put its workers’ safety and health at risk.
Following its investigation in January 2021, OSHA inspectors cited the company for four repeated, nine serious and three other-than-serious safety violations for again exposing workers to unguarded machines, noise and eye and face hazards.
“Ignoring hazards identified in earlier OSHA inspections suggests that Tramont Manufacturing is not committed to protecting its workers’ safety and health,” said Chris Zortman, OSHA area director in Milwaukee. “Amputation and hearing loss are irreversible life-altering injuries. Companies must implement required safety and health measures to prevent employee exposure to these hazards.”
By law, employers are required to implement a hearing conservation program when the average noise exposure over eight working hours reaches or exceeds 85 decibels, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compares to the sound of city traffic (from inside the vehicle) or a gas-powered leaf blower.
OSHA has proposed penalties of $216,307. It conducted a follow-up investigation after the company failed to provide OSHA with information on how it had abated the earlier hazards.
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AHIA) previously highlighted hearing loss as one of the top four major construction health hazards.
Last month, OSHA launched a regional emphasis program that focuses enforcement efforts on promoting hearing conservation programs and reducing occupational noise exposure.
Previously, Missouri employer MFA Enterprises Inc. was cited for one willful and six serious safety violations.
