OSHA recently issued five citations totaling $75,000 to the Pep Boys auto service company after a facility inspection in Hamden, CT for a “repeat violation.” The previous citation was at a different franchise location. At the center of the fines is a parts grinder.
Parts grinders, or abrasive wheel machinery, were the third most cited auto dealership violations in 2010. Parts grinders are citable violations because by nature, they involve contact between employees and equipment. Robert Kowalski, OSHA’s area director in Bridgeport, warns the chain that, “It would be to the benefit of its workers’ safety company-wide for this employer to determine if similar hazards exist at other stores and to eliminate them if they do.”
Watch this two minute video. It explains what OSHA looks for in parts grinders during an inspection, how to comply with OSHA standards, and also has safety tips for parts grinder operators.