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Company Receives 18 Violations for Failing to Protect Employees from Georgia Work Accidents

On Behalf of | Jul 8, 2011 | Atlanta work accident, Georgia Work Accidents, Georgia Workers' Compensation |

Levent Industries received 18 safety and health violations earlier this year for failing to protect employees from an Atlanta work accident. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) handed the company these citations after a health inspection they conducted as part of a national program on silica hazards. The silica inspection turned into a general safety inspection after OSHA investigators found a number of work site safety hazards. These citations come with proposed penalties that total nearly $50,000.Workplace safety should be a number one priority of employers. Unfortunately, too many companies continue to put their employees at risk. It is important to contact a Georgia workers’ compensation attorney if you’ve been injured on the job in our state.

Levent Industries does business as Architectural Brass Co. They manufacture a number of products made out of metal and wood at a location on Hollowell Parkway. These products are used by the hospitality, gaming and travel industries. These items produced include luggage carts, trash and recycling units, benches and planters.

Levent Industries was cited for the following safety violations:

-Exposing workers to explosive hazards by improperly using polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, pipe to transport compressed air.

-Using compressed air at greater than 30 pounds per square inch to clean equipment.

-Having an emergency door that could not open quickly enough in case of fire.

-Having a lockout/tagout program for energy sources that lacked machine-specific procedures.

-Lack of machine guards. Guards were reported missing on production equipment, a power press, a bench grinder and a bench grinder with an abrasive wheel.

-Using two outlet boxes as extension cords.

-Blocking electrical breaker boxes.

-Using an extension cord that was missing its ground pin.

-Using an electrical breaker box with missing blanks.

-Using extension cords as fixed wiring.

-Failing to provide welding curtains for the protection of adjacent employees
-Failing to provide a hazard communication program for employees.

“Management needs to take a comprehensive approach to correct these violations, which are endangering workers’ safety and health,” said Andre Richards, director of OSHA’s Atlanta-West Area Office. “Many of these violations can be easily corrected, while not correcting them could result in serious injury or death.”

The company has 15 days from the receipt of the citations to take action. They can willingly comply, contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission or request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director.

If you have experienced a serious injury at work in the Atlanta area and want to discuss your rights, contact the experienced Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys at J. Franklin Burns. Call 404-920-4708 to make a free appointment to discuss your claim.