One of OSHA’s Site Specific Targeted inspections has resulted in 17 serious safety violations against a Fort Worth, Texas plumbing and heating company. OSHA cited PVI Industries LLC for 17 serious safety violations that include failure to:

• ensure spreader bars used for lifting equipment and materials were rated, labeled and inspected;
• certify entry into Permit Required Confined Spaces;
• ensure no more than one day's use of chemicals were stored in a paint booth;
• guard a drill press, bench grinder and other machinery;
• conduct an annual inspection on overhead cranes;
• develop written lockout/tagout procedures to properly shut down and isolate potentially hazardous residual energy on machinery;
• ensure air sampling was conducted prior to and during permit required confined space entry; and
• ensure workers did not eat or drink in areas where hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen, is produced from stainless steel welding operations.

An other-than-serious violation was cited for failure to conduct eyewash maintenance.

Proposed penalties: $93,700

"PVI Industries has shown a complete disregard for the safety of their workers, and that needs to change," said Jack Rector, OSHA's area director in Fort Worth. "The absence of air monitoring and proper equipment, the exposure to amputation hazards — all of this contributes to dangerous and unacceptable hazards."

Site Specific Targeted inspections are planned inspections at high-hazard workplaces where the highest rates of injuries and illnesses occur.