Company in Atlanta fined almost $120,000 for indifference to the safety of temporary workers

OSHA has issued 2 repeat, 2 serious, and 1 other-than-serious violation to American Air Filter Co. Inc., doing business as AAF International after conducting an inspection at their facility at 2624 Weaver Way, Atlanta, Georgia 30340.

American Air Filter employs temporary workers from two staffing agencies: JTJ Staffing Inc., doing business as True Staffing; and JEZ Staffing Inc., doing business as Microtech Staffing. OSHA did not issue citations to the staffing agencies.

An inspection found that the company failed to provide proper machine guarding to protect employees from amputation hazards and did not follow procedures to prevent machinery from starting up unexpectedly during maintenance and servicing.

“This is the second significant enforcement action we’ve conducted at AAF International in the last six months,” said Bill Fulcher, director of OSHA’s Atlanta-East Area Office. “We found the same type of hazards during a recent inspection in a different area at the same plant.”

“Management continues to allow workers to clean equipment without following safety procedures and without guards being properly installed. This company needs to address all workplace hazards, not just the ones for which penalties have been proposed.”

On Aug. 21, OSHA proposed fines of $119,900 against the company. American Air Filter Co. Inc. is currently in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program for demonstrating indifference to its OSH Act obligations to provide a safe and healthful workplace for employees.

The citations can be viewed at: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/americanairfilter_1044804_2nd_sig-case.pdf

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission.