Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated an incident in Camden, New Jersey where a worker’s hand was crushed by a vehicle lift. The investigation found that the operator of an automobile dismantling company failed to have proper safeguards in place to protect employees from an accidental machine startup. The fines from the citations amounted to nearly $1.3 million.
The investigation found thirty-three (33) workplace safety and health violations. They included willful, repeat, and serious violations that ranged from issues with the machinery to particles and oil on the floor. The violations included:
- Willfully failed to develop and use lockout/tagout and machine guarding procedures to prevent employees from being hit by the moving conveyor line.
- Willfully did not prevent fires, which happened frequently along the conveyor line when sparking tools ignited gasoline vapors.
- Willfully failed to keep an emergency egress clear.
- Did not protect employees from being caught in automobile lifts.
- Failed to equip employees with personal protective equipment or provide fire extinguisher training.
- Exposed workers to electrical, noise, machine guarding, crushing and flammable material hazards.
Dealerships are reminded that OSHA requires them to provide a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. Dealerships must continue to make certain that their service facilities are compliant with all OSHA rules.
NJ CAR members concerned about OSHA compliance can obtain additional assistance on the specific OSHA standards applicable to the retail automotive industry by contacting Charles Russo NJ CAR Risk Manager & Safety Specialist at 609-883-5056, x314 or via email at [email protected].
Additional information on the Camden OSHA citation may be found at: https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/national/03092022.