OSHA Cites AFL Web for Safety and Health Violations

VOORHEES, NJ—The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited AFL Quality, doing business as AFL Web Printing, for one willful, two repeat, 15 serious and eight other-than-serious safety and health violations following a February inspection at AFL's facility here. Proposed penalties total $170,000.

The willful violation was cited for failing to provide proper machine guarding to protect workers. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.

According to OSHA, the repeat violations involve failing to ensure listed or labeled equipment was used in accordance with instructions, and to conduct a periodic inspection of lockout/tagout procedures of energy sources to safeguard workers from the unexpected startup of machinery during servicing or maintenance. The company was cited for the same violations in 2009. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.

Some of the serious violations include failing to properly post exit signs; properly store gas containers; conduct a personal protective equipment hazard assessment; provide employees with chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles and face shields; provide fire extinguisher training; ensure machines were securely anchored; develop lockout/tagout procedures; conduct monthly and annual inspections of equipment; remove damaged or defective items; close unused junction box openings; and provide a cover or faceplate for junction boxes. OSHA defines a serious violation as one where there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The other-than-serious violations involve failing to properly label chemical containers; create a summary of illness and injury logs, and complete these logs in detail; record the injury of a temporary worker; and maintain a separate OSHA Form 300, the log of work-related injuries and illnesses, for each establishment. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

AFL Web Printing, which has 260 employees, provides web printing, finishing and circulation services for publishers.