Houston Area Plastics Manufacturer Fined for Safety Violations

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited plastics manufacturer FAST-Houston with one alleged willful, two alleged serious and two alleged other-than-serious violations for failing to protect workers from energized machinery hazards at its facility in Humble. Proposed penalties total $72,900.

OSHA’s Houston North Area Office began its investigation Feb. 3 at 8103 Rankin Road and found violations of workplace safety and health standards. A willful violation was issued for failing to protect workers from hazards associated with rotating energized machinery and disabling safety interlocks on the machinery.

The alleged serious violations were issued for failing to implement an effective energy control program and to provide adequate machine guarding on grinders.

Other-than-serious violations were issued for failing to properly certify annual injury and illness records, and to train employees on the use of respirators.

FAST-Houston employs about 285 workers who manufacture plastics, Teflon and metallic seals for various high pressure applications.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the Houston North area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA