Region 5 News Release: 12-2227-CHI
Nov. 14, 2012
Contact: Scott Allen Rhonda Burke
Phone: 312-353-6976
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov burke.rhonda@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA cites Grede Wisconsin with 9 safety
violations during follow-up inspection at Berlin, Wis., iron foundry

BERLIN, Wis. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries LLC for nine ¿ including two repeat ¿ safety violations at the company's Berlin iron foundry. These carry $56,320 in proposed penalties.

"Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries is compromising the safety of its workers by allowing previously cited deficiencies to continue without correction," said Frank Winingham, OSHA's area director in Appleton. "Employers who are cited for repeat violations demonstrate a lack of commitment to workers' well-being. OSHA is committed to protecting workers on the job."

OSHA conducted an inspection in May as a follow-up to an August 2010 inspection.

The repeat violations are operating a grinder with a missing guard and failing to have a cover on an electrical junction box. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Similar violations were cited based on the 2010 inspection.

Seven serious violations include fall hazards stemming from unguarded, open-sided platforms and a lack of fall protection equipment; failing to correct unsafe crane conditions found on inspection; and failing to properly guard machines' nip points and chain sprockets. Some of the violations also involve OSHA's electrical safety standards, including allowing excessive dust to build up on electrical equipment, using electrical equipment above water puddles, having open doors on electrical panels and failing to remove defective equipment from service. 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.

Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries employs about 3,000 workers at the Berlin facility, which produces sand castings and specializes in ductile and gray iron. The company is operated by Southfield, Mich.-based Grede Holdings LLC, which has 21 facilities in the U.S., Europe and Japan.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal 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 Appleton Area Office at 920-734-4521.

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.