Amerway Safety Violations Cited in Repeat Offenses

Amerway Safety Violations again took center stage in a recent inspection of the Pennsylvania based plant.

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an inspection on March 9, 2016, as part of the agency’s national emphasis programs for lead and primary metal industries. Amerway Inc., an industrial soldering and metal brazing manufacturer, based out of Altoona, Pennsylvania, were issued citations on July 1, 2016, for multiple violations. The Amerway safety violations include 3 repeat violations, 4 serious violations, and 1 other-than-serious violation. The repeat violations include exposing workers to unsafe levels of lead and respiratory protection failures. Amerway Inc. was cited for identical violations in October of 2011. The violations carry a penalty of $49,000.

Serious violations regard a failure to institute engineering, administrative, and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposures to lead below the permissible exposure level.

The Amerway Safety violations Considered Serious included:

• Failure to institute a medical surveillance program for employees exposed to lead above the action level for more than 30 days per year
• Failure to include biological monitoring in the form of blood sampling and analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin.
• Failure to provide a medical evaluation to employees required to utilize a tight-fitting respirator while working in a regulated area

The other-than-serious violation was due to hazardous chemical labeling deficiencies.

Christopher Robinson, director of the OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office, said, “Amerway still has not taken adequate steps to protect its workers from the debilitating medical conditions related to lead overexposure, which is inexcusable. The most effective way to minimize worker lead exposure is through engineering controls, medical surveillance, training and the use of personal protective clothing and equipment such as respirators.”

A comprehensive industry training course can assist employers in following the appointed OSHA standards and better-practice guidelines within their respective fields. To learn more about OSHA standards and business guidelines for employers, please consult OSHA’s website.