Pyongsan America, Inc. and its staffing agency are facing a combined $106,020 in fines after workers were found to be at risk of amputation.
OSHA initiated an inspection of the auto parts manufacturer in January 2016 as part of its Regional Emphasis Program on Safety Hazards in the Auto Parts Industry. The agency cited Pyongsan and Surge Staffing LLC for 11 safety violations. Surge Staffing, also based in Auburn, provides approximately 50 temporary employees to Pyongsan.
The inspection found workers exposed to being caught-in machinery, hit by objects and the risk of amputation at the Pyongsan America Inc. facility in Auburn. Pyongsan manufactures heating, ventilation and air conditioning hoses for Hyundai, Kia, Chrysler and General Motors.
OSHA issued four repeated citations to Pyongsan for its failure to develop and implement proper procedures to prevent machinery from starting-up during maintenance or servicing, conduct periodic inspections of the energy control procedures, train employees performing work on hazardous energy sources or protect workers from crushing and amputation hazards due to improper machine guarding.
The agency also issued two serious citations to Surge for failing to train employees and protect them from crushing and amputation hazards.
In addition, OSHA cited Pyongsan for two serious violations for not requiring workers to de-energize equipment when changing out parts on machinery and exposing employees to amputation hazards due to ineffective machine guarding on the mechanical power presses. Inspectors also issued one serious citation to Surge for this same machine-guarding hazard.
OSHA is considering placing Pyongsan America Inc. in its Severe Violators Enforcement Program. The program focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. Under the program, OSHA may inspect any of the employer's facilities if it has reasonable grounds to believe there are similar violations.
The citations for the two companies can be viewed at:
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/PyongsanAmericaInc_1123267.pdf
http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/SurgeStaffingLLC_1123547.pdf
The companies have 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
