October 23, 2009

OSHA proposes $254,000 in fines for lead hazards at Franklin, New Hampshire foundry

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Franklin Non-Ferrous Foundry, Inc. for 17 alleged willful, serious violations of workplace health & safety standards.

The Franklin, N.H., foundry faces $254,000 in fines after comprehensive OSHA inspections began in April.

"Chief among the hazards identified in the foundry are inadequate or absent protections for workers whose duties expose them to airborne concentrations of lead," said Rosemarie Ohar, OSHA's area director in New Hampshire. "Lead is a subtle and insidious hazard that can seriously damage the blood-forming, nervous, urinary and reproductive systems. This reality makes it imperative that employers monitor their workers' lead exposure levels, provide effective respiratory protection and promptly remove workers from exposure when necessary."

OSHA determined the foundry didn’t provide required biological monitoring for workers exposed to lead, and that they did not properly fit-test or make sure adequate respiratory protection was provided for those workers. Required benefits were also not provide for workers medically removed from work from lead overexposure.