Malloy tours Conn. firm cited by OSHA

Hartford, Conn (AP) - As Gov. Dannel P. Malloy visited a Newington company that manufactures aircraft engine components on Tuesday afternoon, he had no idea federal authorities were almost simultaneously announcing that the same firm, Volvo Aero, was being cited with 17 alleged safety violations, according to a spokeswoman for the governor.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, said the manufacturer faces a total of $83,400 in proposed fines following a comprehensive inspection.

"Workers at this plant face the risk of falls, fires, explosions, electrocution, struck-by injuries, chemical exposure and being caught in unguarded operating machinery," said Paul Mangiafico, OSHA's area director in Hartford. "For the safety and health of its workers, the company must address these issues so that they do not occur again."

He said the employees were exposed to "a range of hazards that could result in potentially serious or fatal injuries" if not corrected.

Colleen Flanagan, Malloy's spokeswoman, said the governor's visit to Volvo Aero was part of his ongoing tour of small and large businesses to discuss the state's budget and plans to help grow jobs. She said Malloy did not know about the OSHA investigation.

"We were not made aware of this issue and obviously the governor fully supports OSHA doing its job," she said.

A message was left seeking comment from Volvo Aero.

An OSHA spokesman said Volvo Aero, which develops and manufactures components for aircraft engines and gas turbines, said the company was informed of the alleged violations on March 21. It has 15 days from the receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to the company, to comply, meet with Mangiafico or contest the findings before an OSHA review commission.

OSHA cited specific safety violations in its announcement on Tuesday.

They include workers being hoisted on a load hook of an overhead crane; lack of personal protective equipment; improperly designed combustible dust collection system; improper disposal of combustible rags; failure to monitor the air to determine workers' exposure to hexavalent chromium compounds; unguarded milling machines, belts, pulleys and grinders; and failure to re-evaluate workers' abilities to safely operate fork lifts and provide them with refresher courses.