Region 4 News Release: 11-1520-ATL (516)
Oct. 31, 2011
Contact: Michael D'Aquino Michael Wald
Phone: 404-562-2076 404-562-2078
Email: d'aquino.michael@dol.gov wald.michael@dol.gov

Fort Lauderdale, Fla., manufacturer cited by US Department of Labor's
OSHA for 24 safety and health violations; more than $68,000 proposed in fines

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – An inspection of Sen-Dure Products Inc. in Ft. Lauderdale conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration resulted in citations for 24 safety and health violations with proposed penalties of $68,600. OSHA initiated its inspection as part of the agency's site-specific targeting program for companies in high-hazard industries.

"This company is endangering its employees' safety by ignoring its obligation to eliminate amputation, fall and electrical hazards. It also is risking its workers' health by exposing them to loud noises, lead and hexavalent chromium. There is no reason for management to wait for an OSHA inspection before correcting these dangers," said Darlene Fossum, director of OSHA's Fort Lauderdale Area Office.

Fourteen serious safety violations with penalties totaling $40,600 involve the use of a defective forklift, electrical hazards, workers without required training certification operating a forklift, exposing workers to fall hazards due to the use of a damaged Fiberglas ladder, fall hazards relating to a lack of railings on a working platform and a stairwell, and the lack of safeguards on machinery to prevent amputations.

Six health violations with penalties of $25,200 involve failing to provide a noise monitoring program, provide provisions for annual audiometric tests for workers, provide medical evaluations and fit-testing or training for workers required to use respirators, keep areas where food is consumed as free as practical from lead contamination, and provide employees with information and training on the hazards of hexavalent chromium. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Four other-than-serious safety violations with $2,800 in penalties were cited for incomplete and inadequate documentation in the required injury and illness logs for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

Sen-Dure Products Inc. manufactures industrial radiators and heat exchangers. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the 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 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 Fort Lauderdale office at 954-424-0242.

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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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.