OSHA cites Horizon Lines terminal

OSHA cites Horizon Lines terminal    The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said recurring safety hazards at the Puerto Nuevo Port Area marine terminal in San Juan have led it to propose $72,500 in fines against Horizon Lines of Puerto Rico Inc.
   OSHA cited the company for alleged repeated and serious violations of safety standards following an inspection opened June 7 in response to a complaint from employees.
   “Workers performing stevedoring operations at the terminal were exposed to potential crushing, fall, electrical and struck-by hazards while operating loaders, trucks and cranes with safety deficiencies,” said Jos' A. Carpena, OSHA’s area director for Puerto Rico. “We are concerned that several of these conditions are similar to hazards cited during an earlier OSHA inspection. For the safety of its workers, this employer must correct these hazards and ensure they do not happen again.”
   OSHA found several instances where top loaders and trucks were operated with defects, including inaudible or inoperable back-up alarms and inoperable or missing headlights, brake lights, horns and wipers. Employees were also exposed to live electrical parts while working in the operator’s cabin of a crane and lacked eye and hand protection. OSHA said it cited Horizon Lines of Puerto Rico Inc. in October 2006 for similar hazards at this same location. As a result, three repeat citations, with $57,500 in proposed fines, have been issued to the company for these recurring conditions.
   The latest inspection also found workers exposed to possible tip over of trucks and top loaders due to holes and unleveled terrain at the marine terminal as well as unsafe access to the crane’s operator cabin, an obstructed operator’s view from the crane’s cabin and disconnected brake lines on trucks. These conditions resulted in four serious citations, with $15,000 in proposed fines. OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.
   Horizon Lines of Puerto Rico Inc. 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.
   Horizon Lines declined to make any immediate comment.