July 17, 2008 – Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth Director Keith W. Cooley today directed Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) compliance officers to execute a Cease Operation Order against Pretco Technologies in Mt. Morris for continuing to run operations without the required eye wash facilities, chemical safety program, or personal protective equipment.

Pretco Technologies in Mt. Morris employs 10 workers and is a parts coating operation.  Their business requires the extensive use of corrosives, solvents, and paints.  They are classified as a high-hazard industry.

"MIOSHA standards require employers to protect workers from known workplace hazards.  By not correcting previously identified hazards, Pretco Technologies has compromised the safety of its employees," said Cooley.  "MIOSHA is committed to helping employers who want to do the right thing.  But we will not tolerate Pretco Technologies' flagrant disregard of employee safety."

A Cease Operation Order is one of the strongest actions MIOSHA can take against an employer.  This is the third time in MIOSHA history that a Cease Operation Order has been served against an employer for failing to correct identified safety and health violations within the provided time frame.

Cease Operation Orders can be executed when MIOSHA has determined there are serious hazards at a worksite and the employer fails to correct the hazards.  If an employer fails to comply with the Cease Operation Order, MIOSHA has the authority and the responsibility to seek a court order to obtain compliance.

This Cease Operation Order stems from violations first identified to the company in 2005.  On Aug. 24, 2005, citations were issued to Pretco Technologies as a result of a complaint inspection.  The citations were for lack of eye wash facilities, no chemical hazard communication program, no assessment for personal protective equipment, violations on electrical safety, no formaldehyde exposure monitoring, improper storage of liquefied petroleum gases, and two violations on control of hazardous energy sources.

Pretco Technologies failed to submit abatement information to MIOSHA on these citations so a follow-up inspection was done on July 19, 2006.  The compliance officers found that the employer had not abated five of the original nine violations, including the three related to this Cease Operation Order.

On May 29, 2007, a second follow-up inspection was conducted because the company had again failed to submit abatement information.  This inspection also found the company had not abated the three violations.  A second set of failure-to abate citations were issued.  By 2008 the firm had still not submitted the abatement information so a third follow-up inspection was done on April 28, 2008.  This inspection has resulted in a third set of failure-to-abate citations.

In addition to the follow-up inspections, MIOSHA contacted the company on nine separate occasions from 2005 to 2008 to discuss abatement methods and offer help.  On each occasion the firm continued to conduct operations without the required protections.  MIOSHA also gave the company free compliance guides that it could use to create the necessary programs.

On July 17, 2008, a return visit to the firm found the violations had yet to be fixed.  During this return visit, the Cease Operation Order was issued.

"We will not allow this continued exposure of employees to serious hazards.  Since the employer refuses to take corrective action, we must step in and protect these workers," said Cooley.  "As soon as Pretco Technologies corrects the hazards and notifies our compliance officers, we will respond in less than 24 hours, verify abatement and remove the Cease Operation tags."

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