OSHA Cites Texas Printer for Violations
SAN ANTONIO—The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Litho Press, based here, with 19 alleged serious violations, including leaving workers vulnerable to amputations from improper machine guarding. The proposed penalties total $53,550.
OSHA began an inspection on Oct. 6 under its National Emphasis Program (NEP) on amputations at the Litho Press facility, where workers manufacture books, magazines, directories and brochures. Violations included inadequate machine guarding (including for belts, pulleys and horizontal shafts) and a lack of specific procedures to control hazardous energy while workers conducted cleaning and servicing operations on printing equipment.
The NEP on amputations is a program designed to more effectively reduce amputation injuries by properly applying machine guarding techniques and adequately controlling associated energy hazards.
Additionally, employees were exposed to falling nearly 9 feet due to a 16˝ gap in a guardrail system on an elevated working surface. Other violations include failing to provide guardrails on elevated working areas; to ensure that electrical deficiencies were repaired and maintained; and to provide training on the use of hazardous chemicals and methods to control hazardous energy.
A serious violation is one in which there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
The company had 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's San Antonio Area Office or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. PI
