August 8, 2016

OSHA finds New Jersey rifle manufacturer deemed a 'severe violator' in 2012
continues to expose workers to noise hazards at Bayonne facility
Henry RAC Holding Corp. fined $45K for federal violations

Employer name: Henry RAC Holding Corp.

Inspection site: 59 East 1st St., Bayonne, New Jersey

Citations issued: On July 29, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for three repeat, four serious and one other-than-serious safety violations.

Investigation findings: OSHA initiated the inspection on Feb. 23, 2016, as a follow-up to a 2012 inspection which resulted in Henry RAC Holding Corp. being placed in the agency's Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

Inspectors found the company failed to maintain an effective hearing conservation program for employees exposed to high noise levels during polishing and test-firing operations to prevent permanent hearing loss and failed to provide workers with annual training on noise hazards. OSHA also found the company did not follow up on incidents where employees experienced significant hearing loss.

Quote: "Henry RAC Holding Corp.'s owner's manual states that ear protection should be worn while shooting its rifles. Yet, the company continues to fail to provide its workers with the proper safeguards needed to prevent noise-induced hearing loss," said Kris Hoffman, director at OSHA's Parsippany Area Office. "Hearing loss is a serious issue. This employer's callous attitude toward hearing protection is unconscionable and will not be tolerated."

Proposed penalties: $45,000

The citation can be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/HenryRACHoldingCorp_1127184.pdf

The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint; or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Parsippany Area Office at 973-263-1003.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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Media Contact:

Leni Fortson, 215-861-5102, uddyback-fortson.lenore@dol.gov
Joanna Hawkins, 215-861-5101, hawkins.joanna@dol.gov

Release Number: 16-1607-NEW (osha 16-099)

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The department's Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay).