NJ Steel Company Cited for Safety Violations

A New Jersey steel fabrication company was cited by OSHA after the agency said workers were exposed to safety and health hazards.

OSHA began investigating Kenric Steel LLC in July 2023 in response to a complaint. 

The family-owned company specializes in furnishing and installing structural and miscellaneous steel, along with custom fabrication and installation of safety and fall protection products. 

OSHA area director Paula Dixon-Roderick said Kenric Steel hired a safety consultant prior to the investigation.

She said the consultant identified multiple safety and health hazards at the company’s fabrication shop.

“However, the company failed to correct the hazards, which is unacceptable,” she said.

Violations

OSHA’s investigation resulted in 11 citations—four willful and seven serious violations—against the company and a proposed $348,683 in penalties.

The agency said said the violations involved Kenric Steel’s failure to:

• Medically evaluate new employees required to wear respirators.
• Conduct annual inspections of overhead cranes.
• Ensure proper use of welding screens.
• Train new hires on chemical safety.
• Ensure grounding and bonding of a spray finishing process.
• Label containers and maintain safety data sheets for chemicals.
• Install the correct circuit breakers to operate lights.

Kenric Steel had 15 business days to comply with the citations and penalties, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. 

The company contested the citations Feb. 7.