The company, which has a plant in Moraine, was issued penalties for multiple machine safety violations, some of which exposed workers to the threat of amputation and other serious injuries.
» INITIAL REPORT: Fuyao to pay $100K in workplace safety violations
The settlement agreement is effective April 1, and stipulates that Fuyao will pay $100,000 in penalties in four equal payments of $25,000 each. The company will also have quarterly meetings for the next 12 months with OSHA to discuss the status of Fuyao’s compliance.
The settlement also outlines other actions Fuyao will take in coming months, including:
• The company will develop and maintain a safety and health management program that will “provide for the systematic identification, evaluation and prevention or control of workplace health and safety hazards.”
» INVESTIGATION: Workplace deaths not among top OSHA fines
• Fuyao will reiterate during orientations, daily briefs and training events that an employee has the right to refuse to perform work that they believe is “unsafe or unhealthful without fear of discipline or other form of reprisal.”
• A “safety stand-down” will occur on or before May 1. That means work will be suspended so that the company can conduct activities related to improving health and safety at the facility. That includes a discussion by management of the importance of health with an emphasis on hazards related to falls, control of hazardous energy and machine guarding.
• A helpline program will be initiated that allows employees to report potential health and safety concerns by calling a designated phone number. The employee can remain anonymous.
» RELATED:Fuyao fined $227K for unsafe working conditions
The settlement agreement will still need to be signed by an administrative law judge, per OSHA guidelines. A representative of Fuyao also said the 28 proposed serious violations to 10 serious violations.
“Over the past year, our team of health and safety professionals — including nurses, specialists, engineers and outside contractors — have worked tirelessly to develop innovative safety solutions,” said Jeff Daochuan Liu, president of Fuyao Glass America Inc. “We are committed to maintaining a safe working environment for our employees.”
FIVE FAST BUSINESS READS
• Are Sears and Kmart closing near you? Company issues somber notice
• Developer buys retail strip with Ollie's near Dayton Mall
• OHIO PROUD: 5 Ohio businesses selling products at Elder-Beerman
About the Author