Hearing conservation has apparently not been a priority at Prestress Services Industries of Ohio LLC, a full-service structural precast company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Among the 20 safety and health violations found by OSHA inspectors at the company’s Mount Vernon, Ohio concrete production plant:

• Noise levels in the facility were above the permissible exposure limit, and
• the company failed to train, test, monitor, and provide medical surveillance for employees exposed to noise.

"These hazards can cause workers to suffer immediate and long-term adverse health effects," said OSHA Columbus Area Director Larry Johnson.

Prestress Services, which on its website cites “Working safely” as the first item on its list of “Guiding Principals,” was also cited for exposing employees to silica, respiratory, machine, and electrical hazards.

The company faces penalties of $158,555.

Prestress Services Industries has contested the findings and will appear before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.