Oregon OSHA Imposes Penalties on Manufacturer for Safety Violations in the Workplace

A Tualatin, Oregon company has come under scrutiny for maintaining a faulty system for storing raw materials, which has put employees at risk of struck-by and crushing hazards. This alarming situation was uncovered during an inspection by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA).

Avalon International Aluminum, a manufacturer specializing in metal door and window framing, was found to have willfully violated safety regulations by neglecting to adhere to the installation and maintenance guidelines set forth by the manufacturer of its industrial storage racks. This negligence has raised serious concerns about workplace safety.

The consequences of this oversight are significant. Hundreds of pounds of raw materials were left unanchored on cantilever storage racks, some of which featured damaged or even upside-down baseplates, towering as high as 18 feet. Employees, who accessed these materials using both hand tools and forklifts, were exposed to potential bodily harm, as noted by Oregon OSHA.

As a result of these findings, Oregon OSHA issued a citation to Avalon International Aluminum for two violations: one categorized as “willful,” pertaining to the unsafe storage racks, and another deemed “serious,” related to the lack of guarding on a belt sander at a nip point where hands and fingers could easily be injured. The total penalties for these violations amounted to $28,478.

The inspection revealed several alarming details: an estimated 40 baseplates for the storage racks were unanchored to the concrete floor, approximately four baseplates were damaged, and around three baseplates were installed upside down. These findings underscore the critical need for adherence to safety protocols in the workplace.

Employers have a window of 30 calendar days following the receipt of a citation to file an appeal. Avalon International Aluminum has chosen to appeal its citation, indicating that the company is contesting the findings and penalties imposed by Oregon OSHA.

Topics
Workers’ Compensation
Commercial Lines
Business Insurance
Oregon
Manufacturing

A Tualatin, Oregon company has come under scrutiny for maintaining a faulty system for storing raw materials, which has put employees at risk of struck-by and crushing hazards. This alarming situation was uncovered during an inspection by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA).

Avalon International Aluminum, a manufacturer specializing in metal door and window framing, was found to have willfully violated safety regulations by neglecting to adhere to the installation and maintenance guidelines set forth by the manufacturer of its industrial storage racks. This negligence has raised serious concerns about workplace safety.

The consequences of this oversight are significant. Hundreds of pounds of raw materials were left unanchored on cantilever storage racks, some of which featured damaged or even upside-down baseplates, towering as high as 18 feet. Employees, who accessed these materials using both hand tools and forklifts, were exposed to potential bodily harm, as noted by Oregon OSHA.

As a result of these findings, Oregon OSHA issued a citation to Avalon International Aluminum for two violations: one categorized as “willful,” pertaining to the unsafe storage racks, and another deemed “serious,” related to the lack of guarding on a belt sander at a nip point where hands and fingers could easily be injured. The total penalties for these violations amounted to $28,478.

The inspection revealed several alarming details: an estimated 40 baseplates for the storage racks were unanchored to the concrete floor, approximately four baseplates were damaged, and around three baseplates were installed upside down. These findings underscore the critical need for adherence to safety protocols in the workplace.

Employers have a window of 30 calendar days following the receipt of a citation to file an appeal. Avalon International Aluminum has chosen to appeal its citation, indicating that the company is contesting the findings and penalties imposed by Oregon OSHA.

Topics
Workers’ Compensation
Commercial Lines
Business Insurance
Oregon
Manufacturing