OSHA Cites Michigan VA Medical Center for Safety Violations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center in Michigan for seven serious and other safety violations related to working conditions at the facility, states a January 17, 2013, OSHA news release. According to the release, the violations were discovered during a safety inspection conducted in July 2012 as part of OSHA's Federal Agency Targeting Inspection Program. Three of the violations were repeat violations associated with failing to evaluate the workplace to identify if permit-required confined spaces were present and label such spaces with danger signs, failing to adequately guard automated laundry equipment to prevent employees from entering the work area, and failing to fully guard the belt and pulley of an air compressor. Another violation, deemed “other-than-serious” by OSHA, involved the facility’s failure to close unused openings on electrical cabinets and junction boxes.