Plastican earns 10 serious OSHA violations

OSHA defines a serious violation as one where there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The remaining non-serious violation was a failure to certify monthly inspections of the hooks for the overload crane. Bill Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office said the inspection identified a broad range of hazards that could expose workers to electric shock, potential falls and 'caught-in' hazards posed by work around machinery.

"Employers cannot wait for an OSHA inspection to identify the hazards that expose their employees to serious injury," Fulcher said in a release. "It is good business to implement preventive programs and systems to ensure that such hazards are identified and corrected as part of day-to-day operations."

Bway, which acquired Plastican in October 2010, has plastic and metal pail capabilities, with 14 plastic-pail plants in North America. The Macon plant covers 120,000-sq-ft of manufacturing and warehouse space. Plastican had 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply or request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Enacted in 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Act states that employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees.