The United States Department of Labor announced Dec. 26 a series of citations for workplace safety and health hazards at an Oakland-based company that designs, manufactures and installs trade show displays.

After notifications that two FB International Inc. workers were injured (eye and foot), the DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducted an inspection in June that led to 32 citations for serious violations and an assessment of $256,931 in proposed penalties.

Among the items inspectors found the company failed to do were:

• Make sure to keep walking and working surfaces free of hazards and install guardrails at the proper height.
• Keep exit routes free and unobstructed and post exit signs correctly.
• Properly train workers and make sure they used personal protective equipment.
• Provide machine guards and make sure electrical equipment was used properly.
• Store flammable liquids safely.
• Perform a workplace hazard assessment.
• Establish written hazard communication and respiratory programs.
• Provide a medical evaluation to determine if any employee could use a respirator safely.
• Maintain a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical used.

In a press release announcing the citations, OSHA Area Director Lisa Levy said that findings of this volume – and across several work areas – indicates a “failed safety and health program.”

“The inspection results should serve as a wake-up call for FB International Inc. to eliminate workplace hazards immediately and make effective safety and health programs a priority,” said Levy.

FB International has 15 business days from notification of the citations to comply, request a conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

OSHA on the job

• Old Bridge roofing company admits OSHA violation in employee death
• Rite Aid to develop bloodborne pathogen safety program following OSHA probe
• South Jersey Amazon warehouse cited for ‘ergonomic hazards’