Atlanta Journal-Constitution a danger to workers? OSHA says Yes!

The U.S Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration says that The Atlanta Journal-Constitution needs to change conditions that threaten the safety of its workers. 

OSHA says the serious violations involve failing to develop and utilize procedures to prevent machinery from starting up during maintenance and servicing and exposing workers to live electrical wiring. The newspaper company was previously cited for a similar violation in 2011.

“A lack of safety mechanisms continues to be one of the most frequently cited violations and that is unacceptable,” said William Fulcher, OSHA’s director of the Atlanta-East Area Office. “Management needs to take immediate action to remove these hazards from the workplace.”

Cox Enterprises Inc. (doing business as The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) was cited for 1 repeat and 5 serious safety violations. OSHA is proposing penalties of $65,550 in addition to requiring the company to correct the violations.

The proposed penalties follow an inspection of their plant located at 6455 Best Friend Road, Norcross, Georgia 30071. The citations did not indicate that any deaths or injuries were caused by the violations found during the inspection.

Cox Enterprises prints, processes and distributes The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The company has 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.

The citations can be viewed at: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/osha/OSHA20151446fs.pdf.