Electrical hazards, problems with emergency exits and sloppy recordkeeping got a Lowe’s store in Castle Rock, Colorado hit recently with 13 OSHA violations and $82,700 in proposed penalties.
OSHA conducted an inspection due to high injury and illness rates reported at the site.
"Lowe's Home Centers failed to ensure that a viable safety and health program was in place at this facility," said John Healy, OSHA's area office director in Englewood, Colo. "This employer is well aware of OSHA requirements for its industry and has been cited several times for similar infractions."
Seven repeat violations were cited for numerous inaccuracies in required injury and illness record keeping, and with electrical safety issues involving access to equipment and damage to wire insulation.
Three serious violations were related to issues with emergency exits, machine guarding and installation of proper electrical receptacles. Three other-than-serious violations included failure to perform a personal protective equipment assessment, failure to properly label hazardous chemicals and lack of detail on required record keeping.
Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. is headquartered in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
