Region 7 News Release: 12-1263-KAN
June 21, 2012
Contact: Scott Allen Rhonda Burke
Phone: 312-353-6976 312-353-4807
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov burke.rhonda@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA cites National Vinyl Products, subsidiary
for 30 safety and health violations at St. Genevieve, Mo., plants
Proposed fines total nearly $200,000

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited National Vinyl Products Inc. and subsidiary NVP Hospitality Design LLC, both located in St. Genevieve, with a total of 30 safety and health violations, including three repeat violations for failing to properly ground electrical equipment and a lack of machine guarding. Proposed penalties total $199,800.

OSHA initiated a follow-up inspection of National Vinyl Products Inc. in December 2011 after inspections in May 2009 and April 2010 resulted in citations for a variety of violations. The most recent inspection resulted in citations for 12 violations. OSHA initiated a concurrent inspection of NVP Hospitality Design LLC based on a report of unsafe working conditions, which resulted in citations for 18 violations.

"Employers have a responsibility to protect the safety of their workers," said Charles E. Adkins, OSHA's regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo. "It is imperative that employers make the commitment to safety and health to ensure that employees are not continually exposed to hazards like these."

One repeat violation at National Vinyl Products is failing to ground electrical equipment. Two repeat violations at NVP Hospitality Design involve a lack of machine guarding and using flexible cords that are not grounded. These violations previously were cited during the 2009 and 2010 inspections. 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.

National Vinyl Products has been cited with a failure-to-abate violation for not correcting machine guarding deficiencies cited during an April 2010 inspection of the facility. A failure-to-abate notice is issued, and additional fines proposed, when an employer fails to correct previously cited hazards.

Nine serious safety and health violations at National Vinyl Products involve deficient lockout/tagout procedures, a lack of machine guarding, defective slings, poor housekeeping, a lack of protective footwear and failing to have legible load ratings on slings.

Fourteen serious safety and health violations at NVP Hospitality Design involve deficient lockout/tagout procedures, a lack of machine guarding and a lack of personal protective equipment including eyewear. Other hazards cited involve a lack of fall protection, and failing to train workers who use powered industrial trucks, properly store and label flammable liquids, and implement a hazard communication program. 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.

Three other-than-serious violations relate to a lack of certification for hazard assessments at both companies and record-keeping deficiencies at NVP Hospitality Design. 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.

The citations can be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/NatlVinyl_314387515_0620_12.pdf*
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/NatlVinyl_316181452_0620_12.pdf*
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/NatlVinyl_316276237_0620_12.pdf*
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/NVPHosp_316090224_0620_12.pdf*
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/NVPHosp_316275999_0620_12.pdf*

Proposed penalties total $119,700 for National Vinyl Products and $80,100 for NVP Hospitality Design. Both companies have 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in St. Louis, 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 St. Louis Area Office at 314-425-4249.

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 or CD from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.

* Accessibility Assistance Contact OSHA's Office of Communications at 202-693-1999 for assistance accessing PDF materials.