OSHA Violations: Nov '98 - Dec '99

OSHA HAMMERS GRINNELL WITH 15 VIOLATIONS AT A SINGLE JOBSITE

Indiana OSHA inspected a Grinnell jobsite recently and found a serious violation of  safety regulations governing hazardous energy, two serious violations of rules on  industrial trucks, two serious violations regarding abrasive wheel machinery, a serious violation of mechanical power rules, and a serious violation of electrical systems regulations. OSHA also found ten general violations of rules regarding protective equipment, first aid, fire protection, industrial trucks, overhead cranes, and two hazard communications, and 3 welding violations. OSHA proposed a fine of $2,430.

The same month, South Carolina OSHA cited Grinnell for a serious violation of fall protection rules, and levied a $160 fine.

April, 1999

Missouri OSHA issues a serious violation and $2,125 fine against Grinnell for failing to comply with safety training regulations.

Ohio OSHA checks out Grinnell at a Brecksville, Ohio jobsite. OSHA finds a serious violation of ladder rules and proposes a $525 fine.

Worker injury cases involving historic asbestos exposure are clogging our nation’s courts. Hundreds of thousands of workers have sued various employers, including hundreds of pending suits against Grinnell, in recent years, charging that exposure to asbestos left them with injuries ranging from lung ailments to cancer. Grinnell’s painfully public knowledge of the dangers from asbestos especially troubles the Critic, because apparently Grinnell still fails to obey the asbestos exposure rules, as the following stories show.

Colorado OSHA recently caught up with Grinnell at a Denver job site. OSHA found that Grinnell committed two serious, and two general violations regarding asbestos, and proposed a fine of $12,500. After plea bargaining, OSHA actually increased the fines from $2,500 to $3,000 for two of the serious violations, while dropping two other counts. Grinnell eventually paid a $6,000 fine.

Just four months earlier, New Jersey OSHA inspects a Grinnell job site. This time, OSHA issues fifteen citations, including eleven serious violations. Again, all violations related to asbestos violations. Grinnell managed to plea bargain the initial 15 violations and $36,000 fine down to 4 violations and a still substantial $18,000 fine.

Michigan OSHA cited Grinnell for a serious violation and proposed a $150 fine.

Minnesota OSHA cites and fines Grinnell $100 for an electrical violation.