Proper Training Protocol Deficiency Cited for Golden Dragon Copper

Proper training protocol was cited in a recent safety inspection of tubing manufacturer, Golden Dragon Copper. The company was cited for a total of fourteen violations at their Pine Hill, Alabama facility, following an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Among those citations, a variety of violation types were exhibited, including, two willful, nine serious, and one repeat violation. GD Copper, a China-based manufacturer, employs roughly 400 workers at its North American facility in Pine Hill.

Those willful citations issued by OSHA regarded the exposure of employees to slip, trip and fall hazards and the illegal permission of employees to work on equipment, without observing hazardous stored energy protocol and regulation. The repeat citation issued was due to a failure on the part of the employer to provide training or storage methodology for hazardous energy sources. Other citations included a failure to ensure training in first aid, failure to provide an emergency action plan, and a lack of fire extinguishers. The proper training protocol program taught in many safety courses was largely ignored in these cases.

Serious citations issued by OSHA, included proper training protocol issues such as:

• Employee exposure to unguarded machine parts and equipment
• Employee exposure to potential falling hazards
• Failure to evaluate confined space permit, prior to workers entering confined workspace
• Failure to conduct annual audit of energy control procedure
• Employee exposure to electric shock hazard

The proposed penalty for the aforementioned citations is $196,000.

Joseph Roesler, OSHA Area Director in Mobile, said, “Our inspection has identified numerous serious safety hazards that put employees at risk of injury or death. GD Copper must be more proactive in identifying these hazards and taking action to correct them. Employers should not wait for an OSHA inspection or an incident to occur before they assess their workplace to ensure workers at protected.”

OSHA approved inspection and compliance training courses are a recommended resource for those employers in the general industry workplace.