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Safety violation at Behr Dayton leads to missed work, $77,500 fine

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By Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer Updated 11:36 AM Wednesday, September 22, 2010

DAYTON — Safety violations at Behr Dayton Thermal Products LLC resulted in a trip to a hospital and at least two weeks of missed work for one Behr worker, said Richard Gilgrist, Cincinnati-area director for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

A mechanical issue caused the injury, Gilgrist said.

“I believe there was a serious cut or cuts,” he said.

Behr, the largest remaining auto parts plant within Dayton city limits, has been cited with six serious and two repeat safety violations by OSHA for failing to provide proper personal protective gear and lockout procedures for electrical equipment, the U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday.

During maintenance, workers are often expected to lock equipment off “so they don’t get caught in it, cut by it,” Gilgrist said.

The company was cited for the same issues in 2008, Gilgrist also said.

“There were issues of management not getting the message down to the employees, I would say that,” he said. “There were procedures in place that were not enforced.”

The proposed penalties total $77,500, but Behr has 15 business days from receipt of the current citations to contest, comply or request a meeting.

Behr public relations referred questions to a plant facility manager, who said he couldn’t comment.

OSHA inspected Behr in June and cited the company for failing to provide fall protection, proper lockout procedures for machinery and electrical equipment and appropriate personal protective gear for employees working on electrical equipment, the Labor Department said. An OSHA violation is considered serious if death or serious physical harm can result from a hazard an employer knew or should have known exists.

Staff Writer Kelli Wynn contributed to this story.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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