Foundry in Groton faces $100,000 fine
PCC Structurals cited by OSHA for serious workplace violations
Groton — A foundry on Poquonnock Road cited for serious workplace violations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is facing more than $100,000 in fines.
PCC Structurals, which creates steel components for the aerospace and energy industries as well as for other commercial ventures, was cited for 20 serious violations Feb. 19, OSHA said in a press release. The metal-castings manufacturer, with 228 employees, had been cited for two other serious violations after a Jan. 5 inspection.
The February inspection resulted in proposed penalties of $90,000 for the company. The earlier report had called for $14,000 in fines.
“Our inspections identified a disturbing cross- section of hazards,” Warren Simpson, OSHA’s area director based in Hartford, said in a statement.
PCC Structurals said in an emailed statement that the company is committed to maintaining a safe workplace.
“We received the OSHA report and have taken the necessary steps to address the findings,” said spokesman Jay Khetani.
OSHA said hazards included lack of protection for workers around electrical equipment, exposed live electrical parts, lack of emergency eyewashes, inadequate safety glasses, flammable liquids improperly stored and unsecured compressed gas containers.
The workplace hazards could have led to fires, explosions, amputations and hearing loss, among other concerns, OSHA said.
“It’s imperative for the health and well being of its employees that PCC Structurals takes comprehensive, effective and ongoing corrective action to eliminate these hazards,” Simpson said.
The company was cited earlier this year for being one of the region’s top polluters, ranked No. 5 on the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of local toxic-chemical releasers.
PCC Structurals, a division of the Precision Castparts Corp. acquired in January by Berkshire Hathaway for $37.2 billion, was given 15 business days to come in compliance with OSHA rules. It can also contest OSHA’s findings with a review board within the same timeframe.