PARSIPPANY — The Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued several violations against two township-based clothing companies for exposing its employees to hazardous conditions.

The two companies, Salonika Associates LLC and Alfred Dunner Inc., have offices at a building on 200 Walsh Drive. Both specialize in making women’s clothing.

The violations total $51,750.

Of that, OSHA issued $46,350 worth of violations against Salonika Associates LLC., the distribution center for Alfred Dunner Inc. The violations include allegedly having an inadequate lockout/tagout program that details specific procedures on operating equipment to prevent injury, a lack of machine guarding, a deficient hazard communication program, electrical circuit boxes not being covered, electrical switches not being clearly marked and inadequate respiratory protection program.

Against Alfred Dunner Inc., OSHA issued $5,400 worth of violations.

“All of these violations leave workers vulnerable to hazards that can result in injury and illness,” said Phillip Peist, director of OSHA’s Parsippany office, in a statement. “By establishing an effective comprehensive workplace safety and health program that engages employees to proactively evaluate, identify and eliminate hazards, the companies will be better positioned to ensure an overall safe and healthful work environment.”

Alfred Dunner Inc. manufactures women’s clothing and accessories and Salonika serves as the company’s distribution center. Both have offices on 200 Walsh Drive. 

Brian Buccieri, director of human resources for the company, said during a telephone interview that the company disagrees with OSHA’s findings. 

“Those citations are under contest,” he said. He declined to elaborate. 

Buccieri said he didn’t know how many employees currently work for the company. 

The violations identified by OSHA were based on findings from an inspection it did at the facility last Nov. 2.

Article Source: dailyrecord.com