DOL-OSHA-10-531-DAL
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Contact: Elizabeth Todd
Phone: 972-850-4710

US Department of Labor's OSHA cites National Standard Co. in Stillwater, Okla., for safety and health violations

STILLWATER, Okla. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited National Standard Co. with alleged serious and repeat citations following a safety and health inspection at the company's worksite in Stillwater. Proposed penalties total $158,780.

"This company has a history of safety and health violations dating back to 1988," said David Bates, OSHA's area director in Oklahoma City, Okla. "OSHA's standards must be followed to avoid illness and injury."

OSHA's Oklahoma City Area Office began its investigation Oct. 27, 2009, at the company's facility on Perkins Road in Stillwater. The inspection was part of OSHA's Site-Specific Targeting Program, which is used to focus on industry sectors experiencing high injury and illness rates.

The serious citation includes 25 safety and 13 health violations. The safety violations include failing to clean settled combustible dust on floors and piping, to place covers on electrical equipment, to provide adequate machine guarding, to provide fall protection equipment such as standard guardrails and to follow manufacturer's instructions on forklift operations. Health violations include failing to ensure employees were wearing personal protective equipment and to follow safety procedures for controlling lead. A serious violation is one in which there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

A repeat citation was issued for failing to properly install and mount receptacle boxes as listed and labeled for use. Under this condition, an electrical shock hazard can occur. In 2007, OSHA cited the company for a similar hazard at this facility following a workplace fatality. A repeat violation is issued when an employer previously was cited for the same or similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last three years.

National Standard Co., headquartered in Niles, Mich., is owned by Heico Cos. LLC in Downers Grove, Ill., and employs about 92 workers in Stillwater. The company has 15 business days from receipt of citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Oklahoma City, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA's Oklahoma City Area Office at 405-278-9560 or OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-6742 to report workplace accidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers.

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 assure 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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