Region 1 News Release: 13-2232-BOS/BOS 2013-221 
Dec. 16, 2013 
Contact: Ted Fitzgerald Andre Bowser 
Phone: 617-565-2075 617-565-2074 
Email: fitzgerald.edmund@dol.gov bowser.andre.j@dol.gov

Hartford, Conn., welding company fails to correct previously cited safety 
hazards, faces extra $167,750 in proposed US Labor Department OSHA fines 
Jarosz Welding Company Inc. first cited in August 2012

HARTFORD, Conn. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Jarosz Welding Company Inc., a Hartford-based contractor, for not correcting specific workplace safety hazards cited during a previous OSHA inspection of the company's 544 Ledyard St. welding shop in Hartford.

"We found no evidence that the employer made any effort to safeguard its workers from these serious hazards that prompted great concern and various citations upon initial inspection," said Warren Simpson, OSHA's area director in Hartford. "Left uncorrected, workers are exposed to burns, falls, lacerations and other potential injuries. For the health and well-being of its workers, the employer must take effective action to correct these hazards and prevent their recurrence."

OSHA's Hartford Area Office launched a follow-up inspection after the employer failed to provide abatement documents proving correction of violations cited in August 2012. The follow-up inspection identified eight specific hazards left uncorrected, including failing to provide welding screens near welding stations; maintain suitable extinguishing equipment in ready condition during welding operations; provide workers with training on hazardous chemicals in their work area; store oxygen and fuel gas cylinders separately; provide a guardrail; and install safety guards on machinery.

Eight failure-to-abate notifications, with $165,550 in fines, were issued for these conditions. A failure-to-abate notice applies to a condition, hazard or practice for which the employer was originally cited, and upon reinspection, was found uncorrected.

The company also received one serious citation, with a fine of $2,200, regarding blocked access to electrical panels. 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.

The failure-to-abate notices and citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/JaroszWeldingCo_568019_1205_13.pdf* and http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/JaroszWeldingCo_910472_1205_13.pdf*.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its failure-to-abate notices, citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet informally 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 Hartford Area Office at 860-240-3152.

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 292-693-7828 or TTY 292-693-7755.

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