Last week, OSHA issued seven citations to US GreenFiber’s plant in Pennsylvania, with proposed penalties of more than $66,000 that resulted from a complaint inspection in late October 2015. GreenFiber manufactures cellulose fiber insulation, fire and sound products that are made with a minimum of 85 percent recycled paper fibers.
OSHA issued one willful citation after it determined that the insulation manufacturer failed to protect employees from burn, fire and spark hazards by ensuring dust-handling equipment had explosion protection systems.
The two “other-than-serious” violations involved employees wearing dust mask respirators and working with hazardous chemicals without proper training.
But the four serious citations were issued due do employees being exposed to crushing hazards, unguarded platforms, a lack of fire extinguisher training, and dust build up on equipment or surfaces.
According to OSHA, the company was cited in 2010 for the same combustible dust hazards at the company's plant in Ohio.
In a recent release, OSHA Area Director Mark Stelmack said, “Once again, we have found this company continues to jeopardize its workers' safety by failing to implement necessary safeguards. This disregard of safety standards is unacceptable.” Harsh.
The company has seven U.S. manufacturing plants and sells its products to building supply retailers, manufactured housing builders and insulation contractors in the U.S. and Canada.
Let’s hope they do better going forward.
