Connecticut Steel Foundry Faces $104K in OSHA Penalties

Employees at PCC Structurals-Groton faced the risk of chemical burns, fire, lacerations, amputations, electric shock, and other injuries, OSHA inspections have found.
“Our inspections identified a disturbing cross-section of hazards that could result in eye, face, or body injuries, burns, or hearing loss for employees at the Groton location, as well as potential fires or explosions,” says Warren Simpson, OSHA’s area director in Hartford.
“It’s imperative for the health and well-being of its employees that PCC Structurals takes comprehensive, effective, and ongoing corrective action to eliminate these hazards,”
The Groton facility is a steel-investment casting foundry that casts components for aerospace, energy, and commercial applications. Among the hazards identified during OSHA’s inspections:

• Lack of hand, face, and body protection for employees working on or near electrical equipment
• Exposed live electrical parts; misused electrical equipment and power cords; inadequate working space around electrical panelboards; and an ungrounded extension cord
• Unguarded points of operation of hydraulic presses
• Failure to inspect energy control procedures periodically to prevent the unintended startup of machinery during maintenance and cleaning
• No program to inspect chain alloy slings used to lift materials and equipment
• Lack of emergency eyewashes where employees worked with corrosive chemicals
• Inadequate safety glasses for employees working with chemicals
• Inadequately labeled containers of hazardous chemicals
• Flammable liquids not stored in closed containers; improper disposal of combustible waste
• Unsecured compressed gas cylinders
• Incompatible chemicals stored together in a cabinet
• Employees exposed to high noise levels not provided with a choice of hearing protection

As a result of these conditions, OSHA cited the company for 20 serious violations of workplace safety and health standards on Feb. 19, 2016, with proposed penalties of $90,000.
OSHA earlier cited the facility on Jan. 5 for two serious violations concerning inadequate fall protection equipment and an unprotected table saw. Fines of $14,000 were proposed for those violations.