US Labor Department's OSHA cites Little Falls, N.Y., paper mill for 33 safety and health violations after worker is caught in machine

Workers at this mill feel lucky to have steady work. Many must work at a machine, and can only leave by having a foreman step in to continue their job while they use the lavatory. Some jobs require the employee to eat lunch at their work station. They NEVER get to take a lunch or any breag for that matter. Many workers assert that should they expose what goes on, they will lose their jobs, or worse yet, the mill will close down.
Employees can't take urgent (emergency) phone calls.

OSHA cites Little Falls paper mill; facing $136,500 in fines

Story Updated: Oct 30, 2009 at 11:52 AM EST

LITTLE FALLS, N.Y.(WKTV)- The U.S. Labor Department's OSHA agency has cited a Little Falls paper mill for 33 safety and health violations after a worker is caught in a machine.

The Department has OSHA has cited Burrow's Paper Corporation for 33 alleged violations of workplace health and safety standards after a worker sustained serious arm injuries after being partially pulled into the roller of a paper machine at the company's Little Falls facility on April 28, 2009.

The paper manufacturer faces a total of $136,500 in proposed fines.

OSHA's inspection found that the roller had not been guarded against contact, and the machine's power source had not been locked out to prevent contact with moving parts while the worker was cleaning paper off the rolls. OSHA identified several other instances of unguarded machinery, fall hazards, blocked exit access, uninspected and untested lifting equipment, improper storage of compressed gas cylinders, electrical hazards, a failure to monitor employees for chromium hazards, an inadequate hearing conservation program and several deficiencies with the mill's confined space entry program.

"These conditions, which exposed the mill's workers to risk of lacerations, amputation, crushing injuries, falls, electrocution and burns, as well as injuries due to being unable to swiftly exit the mill in the event of a fire or other emergency, must be addressed completely and effectively to protect safety and health," said Christopher Adams, OSHA's area director in Syracuse.

OSHA said it has issued the company two repeat citations for the unguarded roller and for unguarded open-sided work platforms. The agency had previously cited the employer in January 2008 for similar hazards at another worksite. In addition, the mill has been issued 29 serious citations for the remaining hazards, and two other-than-serious citations for incomplete illness and injury reporting and not posting a copy of OSHA's noise standard. OSHA stated that it issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.

"One means of preventing accidents and injuries is through an effective safety and health management system in which employers and employees work together to proactively evaluate, identify and eliminate hazards," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

If this mill is still open a year from now, I will be VERY surprised.

Do you think these finding might help Tony's lawsuit?

Today is the day OSHA set as the deadline for the paper mill to correct the 33 safety and health violations.
Where's our local News?
OSHA sends out a News Release, our newspaper leaves the story out.
I would like to hear the response Burrows gave to OSHA.
Click on the story above. It's BIG.
Who's this Tony who was injured?
What happened?
How did this Topic just die?
OSHA Region 2 News Release
09-1296-NEW/BOS 2009-362

What a bunch of crap fining them $150K. Im sure the plant could have used the money to make ultra redundant safety repairs. Regardless, where did the money go? OUT OF YOUR COMMINITY. Kiss it goodbye. It's probably gone to that papermill up north with 12 employees. You just gave them $7million for TO HIRE more people. It is owned by a state legislators nephew.(dont remember which) But the point is OSHA (Albany) Sucks.$150K is a rediculous amount.

Mr Ed wrote:

What a bunch of crap fining them $150K. Im sure the plant could have used the money to make ultra redundant safety repairs. Regardless, where did the money go? OUT OF YOUR COMMINITY. Kiss it goodbye. It's probably gone to that papermill up north with 12 employees. You just gave them $7million for TO HIRE more people. It is owned by a state legislators nephew.(dont remember which) But the point is OSHA (Albany) Sucks.$150K is a rediculous amount.

From the long list of safety violations listed it would be hard for me to agree with you here. I would think that the mill should be well aware of any safety standards that need to be met. You can argue that they are ultra redundant, but that doesn't change the fact that you have to meet the standards or get fined. If a company does not employ good safety practices it not only puts the employees at risk it also contributes to rising prices on goods and insurance. In he end I doubt that they will have to pay the full amount.

Job safety is relative. No job (or recreation) is totally safe. If OSHA had their way state parks would handicapped ramps up the mountains and fances around the lakes. They ARE a bunch of fanatics -pedants- and group thinkers that suffer from one-up-man-ship issues.

oh this is gonna be fun reading this topic

Unfair Labor Practices wrote:

Workers at this mill feel lucky to have steady work. Many must work at a machine, and can only leave by having a foreman step in to continue their job while they use the lavatory. Some jobs require the employee to eat lunch at their work station. They NEVER get to take a lunch or any breag for that matter. Many workers assert that should they expose what goes on, they will lose their jobs, or worse yet, the mill will close down.
Employees can't take urgent (emergency) phone calls.

wow man where did your info come from, out of the bottle...

Lifer wrote:

If this mill is still open a year from now, I will be VERY surprised.
Do you think these finding might help Tony's lawsuit?

oh come on thats a drop in the bucket for ole bill loose change..

not only can't we eat lunch on the job, but we are NOT allowed to use the lavatory! We have to use buckets that are bolted to the machine! I have even seen one guy get whipped for peeing outside, they docked his pay 43 dollars ( thats one whole weeks wages)!!!

Unfair Labor Practices wrote:

Workers at this mill feel lucky to have steady work. Many must work at a machine, and can only leave by having a foreman step in to continue their job while they use the lavatory. Some jobs require the employee to eat lunch at their work station. They NEVER get to take a lunch or any breag for that matter. Many workers assert that should they expose what goes on, they will lose their jobs, or worse yet, the mill will close down.
Employees can't take urgent (emergency) phone calls.

learn the facts before you go spouting off ot the mouth. If you had the facts (as I do) you would know what fines were given out for what issue, what ones were repeat violations, and what ones will be reduced. as far as the money leaving the community, did ya ever think with a little negotiations with OSHA and the Union, that the money just might stay in the plant for safety purposes? Hmmm...never thought about that huh? OSHA doesnt just pick a number and run with it, there were some serious issues in the mill, plain and simple.

Mr Ed wrote:

What a bunch of crap fining them $150K. Im sure the plant could have used the money to make ultra redundant safety repairs. Regardless, where did the money go? OUT OF YOUR COMMINITY. Kiss it goodbye. It's probably gone to that papermill up north with 12 employees. You just gave them $7million for TO HIRE more people. It is owned by a state legislators nephew.(dont remember which) But the point is OSHA (Albany) Sucks.$150K is a rediculous amount.

Sue for what? If he accepted workers comp disability he forfieted his right to sue. Wasn't the insurance, workers comp, and SSI disability enough? Does he want to put them out of business so no one else gets hurt? Does someone lose a hand every year down there? Why didn't HE fix the safety issue? I have all sorts of questions. How long was he workin there?

you truly are a clueless individual. what insurance money are you talking about?? there was none. what SSI money are you talking about? as far as workers comp...its about half of his normal pay. so what your saying is...so what if a 30+ year employee gets seriously injured because the company failed to make sure that equiptment was guarded. you ask "why didnt HE fix it?" well, the last I knew it was the Companys responsibility to ensure a safe working enviroment...by the way...thats a Government law. this isnt the 1920's. as far as going out of business, I am sure the Company is well funded (insurance) for these types of issues. bottom line...they were wrong.

Mr Ed wrote:

Sue for what? If he accepted workers comp disability he forfieted his right to sue. Wasn't the insurance, workers comp, and SSI disability enough? Does he want to put them out of business so no one else gets hurt? Does someone lose a hand every year down there? Why didn't HE fix the safety issue? I have all sorts of questions. How long was he workin there?

Union-Pres wrote:

learn the facts before you go spouting off ot the mouth. If you had the facts (as I do) you would know what fines were given out for what issue, what ones were repeat violations, and what ones will be reduced. as far as the money leaving the community, did ya ever think with a little negotiations with OSHA and the Union, that the money just might stay in the plant for safety purposes? Hmmm...never thought about that huh? OSHA doesnt just pick a number and run with it, there were some serious issues in the mill, plain and simple.
<quoted text>

The only reason any of us have any facts at all is the OSHA press release that was NEVER PUBLISHED by our local papers, or picked up by the TV News outlets.
Learning the facts would be nice. Can you provide any? The press could have but chose not to. How is one to learn the facts when information that is prepared for release (as this article above was prepared by OSHA) is not released?
Obviously there are serious safety issues at the mill. That's how mill workers end up with serious injuries.
Would be nice to see those issues corrected.
Burrows other violations have been ignored. It's either ignore...have you ever seen the Mohawk River run red? I have more than once. It turned the dock at the Herkimer Home red. That's the volume of the untreated release.,, ignore ... or take my toys and go home (as in the big blue carcass on the river bank.
Why did the Times chose not to run the article?

Mr Ed wrote:

Sue for what? If he accepted workers comp disability he forfieted his right to sue. Wasn't the insurance, workers comp, and SSI disability enough? Does he want to put them out of business so no one else gets hurt? Does someone lose a hand every year down there? Why didn't HE fix the safety issue? I have all sorts of questions. How long was he workin there?

First of all, your boss must have known what a sap you are when he told you that by accepting workers comp you forfeited the right to sue. But it worked. You believed him. Sorry, you could have sued.

"Does he want to put them out of business so no one else gets hurt?"

No, the victim here only wants to be able to maintain the same standard of living that he might have enjoyed had this terrible event not occurred.
Yes, the U.S.Department of Labor and OSHA would, and should put corporate owners out of business if the safety violations go ignored, so no one else gets hurt.

The 21st century world has adopted some of America's respect for the worker. Even 3rd world countries have instated their own equivalents of OSHA to protect the men and women who make millionaires out of the owners of mills and factories worldwide. Something else we Americans have to add to our proud legacy.

Lives and body parts are too high a price to pay for the good of corporate shareholders.

Union-Pres wrote:

you truly are a clueless individual. what insurance money are you talking about?? there was none. what SSI money are you talking about? as far as workers comp...its about half of his normal pay. so what your saying is...so what if a 30+ year employee gets seriously injured because the company failed to make sure that equiptment was guarded. you ask "why didnt HE fix it?" well, the last I knew it was the Companys responsibility to ensure a safe working enviroment...by the way...thats a Government law. this isnt the 1920's. as far as going out of business, I am sure the Company is well funded (insurance) for these types of issues. bottom line...they were wrong.
<quoted text>

Guns are safe until ya put your hand in front of the barrel. It sounds like what OSHA is really striving for is safe people, not safe machines. Well, that aint gonna happen. People are people. I also said if a person is on workers comp for 1 year they are suddenly eligible for SSI disability. One stops, the other starts. By accepting workers comp an employee gives up their right to sue. Its how the state screws the little man. If somehow you were to stay unemployed with NO pay for 1 year you would be eligible for SSI. Thats hard to do, unless you are young and slip at wallmarts-"hurt your back", and live with mom for a year. Anyway, nobody can stay unemployed for a year even if you are hurt real bad, you will have to collect and eventually keep working or starve for a year until you are eligible for SSI.

By collecting, you give up your right to sue and eventually you just have to quit and live under the bridge with the other bums.

Mr Ed wrote:

<quoted text>
Guns are safe until ya put your hand in front of the barrel. It sounds like what OSHA is really striving for is safe people, not safe machines. Well, that aint gonna happen. People are people. I also said if a person is on workers comp for 1 year they are suddenly eligible for SSI disability. One stops, the other starts. By accepting workers comp an employee gives up their right to sue. Its how the state screws the little man. If somehow you were to stay unemployed with NO pay for 1 year you would be eligible for SSI. Thats hard to do, unless you are young and slip at wallmarts-"hurt your back", and live with mom for a year. Anyway, nobody can stay unemployed for a year even if you are hurt real bad, you will have to collect and eventually keep working or starve for a year until you are eligible for SSI.

Just exactly is Walmarts?

I am not sure why the Times didnt follow the story, believe me its not over yet. As far as facts, its as simple as this...there was a serious accident at the mill, the Union decided to have OSHA do a mill inspection, during the inspection OSHA found quite a few violations, some that the Union or Burrows didnt even realize were violations, some that were repeat violations from other Burrows plants in Ohio. A repeat violation, even as simple as not having a hand-rail on a ladder, is a serious offence, hence the big fine. Right now the Company is working very hard,(and spending a lot of money doing it) fixing all the issues that OSHA cited them on. I know for a FACT that the water that is drawn from the river and used in making paper, is much, much cleaner when it is ( if it is) discharged back in the river, as far as the red dye, Burrows was fined a hefty sum for that as well, that was an accident, no more no less. I am not saying that the Mill is accident proof, but this accident has been a serious wake up call for both the Union and the Company. At least I hope it has........

Time is up today wrote:

<quoted text>
The only reason any of us have any facts at all is the OSHA press release that was NEVER PUBLISHED by our local papers, or picked up by the TV News outlets.
Learning the facts would be nice. Can you provide any? The press could have but chose not to. How is one to learn the facts when information that is prepared for release (as this article above was prepared by OSHA) is not released?
Obviously there are serious safety issues at the mill. That's how mill workers end up with serious injuries.
Would be nice to see those issues corrected.
Burrows other violations have been ignored. It's either ignore...have you ever seen the Mohawk River run red? I have more than once. It turned the dock at the Herkimer Home red. That's the volume of the untreated release.,, ignore ... or take my toys and go home (as in the big blue carcass on the river bank.
Why did the Times chose not to run the article?