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County board reviews infractions cited by random OSHA inspection
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The Houston County Board reviewed the results of a random workplace inspection conducted by OSHA on Aug. 25. County Personnel Director Tim Comstock went over the findings at the Nov. 18 board meeting.
According to Comstock, the random inspection included the Highway Department building, Sheriff’s Office, the courthouse and the Houston dropsite.
“As a result of the inspection, the county received several OSHA citations for violations at the Sheriff’s Office and the courthouse,” Comstock told the board. “The combined total penalty for the citations was $5,000 and inclucded discounts for good faith, employer size and previous violation history.”
The county appealed all the citations, Comstock noted. An informal settlement conference was held and OSHA offered a 45 percent discount of the $5,000 penalty if the county agrees to enter the “75/25 program.”
This program is where the adjusted fine is discounted by an additional 75 percent if the county lowers its workers’ compensation claims by 25 percent within the next year.
Under this settlement proposal, the $5,000 fine would be reduced to $2,750 and then reduced by another 75 percent down to $687.50 once the 75/25 program begins. The county would have one year from the settlement agreement to lower its workers’ compensation claims by 25 percent. If the county does not reduce its workers’ compensation claims by 25 percent, it will be responsible for the balance of the fine. However, the balance of the fine may be adjusted if a percentage less than 25 percent is achieved.
Comstock noted none of the infractions cited by OSHA were earth shattering. One of the infractions in the Sheriff’s Office was that a cleaner was being used that had a higher-than-approved PH level, and gloves, goggles, and an eye-washing station would be required if the Sheriff’s Office continued to use this product.
“The easy fix here is to buy a different cleaner,” Comstock said.
Another issue was that the county did not have an asbestos mitigation plan in place. Comstock reported the county is in the process of addressing this issue as well.
“The inspectors took into account the age of our courthouse and Sheriff’s Office, and the fact we are in the planning process for a new County Highway Department facility,” Comstock added. “This is the first time OSHA has conducted an inspection in the 18-plus years I have worked for Houston County.”
“When you consider the size and age of our courthouse and the jail, there’s no doubt we’re going to have a few infractions. But all in all, I don’t think this is too bad,” Commissioner Ann Thompson said.
The board unanimously approved a motion to approve the settlement with OSHA, and will work towards cutting the workers’ compensation claims by 25 percent during the next year.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
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