OSHA: Conshohocken Steel Plant Exposed Workers to 'Risk of Serious Injuries'

Steel plate manufacturer ArcelorMittal's Conshohocken factory on Conshohocken Road has been issued eight safety and health citations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

According a press release issued by OSHA, the agency inspected the site after a complaint that alleged workers were being overexposed to metal fumes. OSHA found that not only were workers being exposed to four times the permissible level of hexavalent chromium – which can increase the risk of lung cancer-- but also that the facility had seven other violations, including one repeat.

"By continuing to expose workers to these hazards, ArcelorMittal puts its workers at risk of serious injuries," said Jean Kulp, director of OSHA's Allentown-area office. "It is imperative that the necessary steps be taken to provide workers at this facility with a safe and healthful work environment."

OSHA found that ArcelorMittal failed to install guards that would prevent workers from falling off platforms more than 20 feet above the floor, a repeat violation, according to the release. The UK manufacturer, headquartered in London, was also cited for a lack of annual audiometric training, a lack of guarding for power transmission devices, electrical hazards, deficiencies in training for powered industrial trucks, and a lack of training on respiratory protection and fitting workers for equipment.

OSHA says proposed penalties total $66,300. The factory, which employs 295 workers, has 15 business days to comply with inspectors, call a conference with the OSHA area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Allentown office at 267-429-7542.