OSHA fines Guam contractor $139,500 for hazardous conditions at barracks, worksite (3/15)
OSHA has cited Hua Sheng International Group Corp. in Barrigada, Guam, for $139,500 in proposed penalties for hazardous working and living conditions at a jobsite and barracks in Harmon, Guam, according to a recent agency press release.
"The failure of employers to provide clean water to workers they are required to house can lead to serious infections and dehydration," said Ken Nishiyama Atha, OSHA's regional administrator in San Francisco. "We are vigorously enforcing the standards for adequate housing and safety for all workers, including H-2B temporary workers, especially as construction and other industries ramp up in support of the planned relocation of Marine Corps personnel and their dependents from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam.
OSHA has cited the company for one alleged willful violation and 28 alleged serious violations. The willful violation is for failing to provide workers with an adequate water supply for drinking, cooking, bathing, flushing and laundry. The proposed penalty for the willful violation is $70,000. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.
The serious violations are for safety and health hazards related to poor living conditions at the employees' barracks as well as at the worksite. Some include failing to maintain the fire alarm system; maintain toilet rooms in sanitary condition; install cooking and heating equipment to meet local ordinances codes and regulations; provide proper food-handling facilities and garbage containers; and provide first aid facilities and maintain a trained first aid person. The proposed penalty for the serious violations is $69,500 A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
OSHA cited this company six times in the two years prior to this inspection. Four of the inspections resulted in a total of nine serious violations.
"The failure of employers to provide clean water to workers they are required to house can lead to serious infections and dehydration," said Ken Nishiyama Atha, OSHA's regional administrator in San Francisco. "We are vigorously enforcing the standards for adequate housing and safety for all workers, including H-2B temporary workers, especially as construction and other industries ramp up in support of the planned relocation of Marine Corps personnel and their dependents from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam.
OSHA has cited the company for one alleged willful violation and 28 alleged serious violations. The willful violation is for failing to provide workers with an adequate water supply for drinking, cooking, bathing, flushing and laundry. The proposed penalty for the willful violation is $70,000. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.
The serious violations are for safety and health hazards related to poor living conditions at the employees' barracks as well as at the worksite. Some include failing to maintain the fire alarm system; maintain toilet rooms in sanitary condition; install cooking and heating equipment to meet local ordinances codes and regulations; provide proper food-handling facilities and garbage containers; and provide first aid facilities and maintain a trained first aid person. The proposed penalty for the serious violations is $69,500 A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
OSHA cited this company six times in the two years prior to this inspection. Four of the inspections resulted in a total of nine serious violations.
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