November 24, 2015
Nov. 23, 2015
Citations issued: On Nov. 19, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued United Hospital Supply Corp. one willful, 10 repeat, nine serious, and one other-than-serious citations.
Investigation findings: OSHA initiated a safety inspection on May 27, 2015, as part of the agency’s site specific targeting program for industries with high injury and illness rates. An additional health inspection took place June 9, 2015, following a referral to address hazards involving noise, hazard communication and respiratory protection.
Inspectors found that during welding operations, welding stations were not enclosed with noncombustible screens and workers were exposed to hazardous ultraviolet light, resulting in the willful citation.
Electrical hazards, unguarded machinery, lack of hand protection, and uninspected overhead cranes were among the serious citations. The other-than-serious citation involved an unlabeled chemical spray bottle.
Proposed penalties: $181,500
Quote: “The willful and repeat violations cited during these latest inspections were identified in 2010 at United Health Supply Corp.’s facility. In the last five years, the company has shown plain indifference by not implementing or maintaining corrective actions to address these hazards,” said Paula Dixon-Roderick, OSHA’s area director in Marlton. “Employers will be held legally responsible when they fail to provide a safe and healthful workplace.”
View the citations: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/UnitedHospitalSupply_1066120.pdf* https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/UnitedHospitalSupply_1069432.pdf*
To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint; or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency’s Marlton Area Office at 856-596-5200.
