The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Sterling Seating Inc., a New Jersey furniture manufacturer, for exposing employees to multiple hazards and for multiple safety violations. On Target Staffing, which provided the manufacturer with temporary employees, received one repeat and two serious health citations.

OSHA issued the citations July 1; proposed penalties are $176,330 for Sterling Seating and $19,800 for On Target Staffing.

Sterling Seating received 25 repeat, 15 serious and two other-than-serious safety and health citations for exposing workers to amputation, chemical, electrical, exit and struck-by hazards. The company was also cited for multiple safety violations related to methylene chloride and fire hazards.

On Target Staffing was cited for not having a written hazard communication program or training, or documentation of a hazard assessment.

“Sterling Seating has repeatedly violated basic safety and health standards and exposed its employees to needless hazards,” said Lisa Levy, area director of OSHA’s Hasbrouck Heights area office. “Host employers and staffing agencies share a responsibility for worker safety. Those that fail to ensure that safety will be held legally responsible.”

On Target’s citations for serious violations allege its employees were directed by the host employer to remove imperfections and other scratch marks from benches and were dispensing from a container of lacquer thinner that included hazardous substances. The citations claim On Target did not develop a written hazard communication program that would have provided employees with general knowledge of hazards associated with hazardous chemicals. Employees also were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area, according to OSHA’s citations.

On Target’s repeat violation alleges the staffing provider did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment.

Each company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to respond.