Wisconsin Polishing and Plating Co. Inc fined $75k by OSHA for Health Violations

The U.S OSHA was created by the Congress of the U.S, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, on 29th December, 1970. Its goal is to prevent work-related injuries and occupational fatalities, by enforcing and issuing certain regulations and standards in order to assure workplace health and safety.

Recently, the OSHA administrator, Mr. David Michaels, was once again called upon in light of some new violations against the safety regulations and standards set up by OSHA.

This time its been the Wisconsin Polishing and Plating of West Allis, WI, that faces a total sum of $75,400 in OSHA fines. Its been slapped with such a large amount in fines, for the Wisconsin Polishing and Plating had committed nearly 53 health violations that are primarily associated with allowing workers to be overexposed to chromic acid and chromium.

This willful citation against the company has mainly been issued for allowing an employee to be exposed to hexavalent chromium above the standard permissible exposure limit or PEL. Some of these violations include:

• Not providing proper PPE for employees working with lead and other extremely dangerous chemical and dust.

• Not maintaining a material safety data sheet.

• Not informing workers about their right to access medical or exposure records and information.

According to the standard process, the company now has 15 days to either contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission or request for an informal conference with OSHA's area director.