Word of the proposed fines, which also stem from what OSHA says are violations that involve respiratory hazards and training issues as well, was made public Wednesday.
"Miami Valley Polishing continues to struggle with its responsibility to protect the health of its workers," Bill Wilkerson, OSHA's area director in Cincinnati, said in a prepared statement issued Wednesday afternoon. "The company failed to establish required engineering controls for dust exposure and to provide hearing tests at least annually to evaluate occupational hearing loss."
During the most recent inspection this year, OSHA's investigation found the company failed to provide six employees with annual hearing tests. Another repeat violation included failure to conduct training on chemical labeling.
OSHA cited the company in October 2012 on both the hearing tests and the training on chemical labeling. 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 facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.
Serious violations of OSHA's respiratory protection standards were found, including overexposing workers to dust and failure to establish a written protection program for employees using dust mask respirators. OSHA said the company lacked controls to reduce dust exposure for workers polishing metal parts.
Additionally, OSHA said, a cover to an energized 120-volt circuit panel was missing, exposing workers to electrical shock hazards. An OSHA violation is serious if death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard an employer knew or should have known exists.
Miami Valley Polishing has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent OSHA Review Commission.
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