Window Master Inc. of Dublin has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for exposing its employees to unsafe levels of lead.
Penalties for the infractions could total as much as $40,400, according to a press release from OSHA. Window Master was cited on May 25 for six repeat violations and three additional serious violations over a two-month span.
“Overexposure to lead can cause permanent kidney, blood and reproductive damage,” said Rosemarie Cole, Concord OSHA area director. “This employer needs to provide effective safeguards to correct hazards and prevent them from happening again.”
OSHA inspections found that:
Employees were exposed to lead beyond permissible limits;
The company failed to provide changing and shower areas to those who worked with lead, increasing the likelihood of contamination;
Lead had accumulated on surfaces such as the lunch table, water dispenser, and light switch; the effectiveness of the ventilation system had not been measured to prevent lead exposure;
The company failed to ensure that employees wore protective clothing while exposed to lead; the company failed to make sure employees used respirators properly; no hearing conservation program was developed.
Window Master has an informal conference scheduled with OSHA on June 20. During that meeting, Window Master can comply, meet with OSHA’s area director to mediate, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, according to James Lally, Deputy Regional Director for Public Affairs for the US Department of Labor.
“The idea is to get the employer to recognize that there is a problem,” said Lally.
Window Master had already been in discussion with OSHA, as they had been cited last May for 16 violations: 15 serious and one labeled other.
Window Master owner and President David Voorhis did not return a call by press time to comment on the matter.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com.