Company where worker died faces fines for safety violations.

Byline: Scott J. Croteau

WORCESTER - The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued six citations with a proposed $28,825 in fines to Intransit Container after an investigation into the Dec. 31 death of a mechanic at the Wiser Avenue company.

Paul Harding, 59, of Spencer, was working on a tire for a large industrial vehicle at the company when the tire somehow shot off, propelling the heavy rim into him and sending him back into a nearby forklift.

OSHA issued the six citations for what the organization deemed serious violations. Intransit Container has 15 working days upon receipt of the citations to request an informal conference with OSHA officials, pay the penalties or contest the citation, which would then go to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission and then become a court case.

OSHA spokesman John M. Chavez said yesterday his organization had not heard from the company as of yesterday afternoon.

Company President Stephen W. Cotrone did not return a telephone call yesterday.

The serious violations listed by OSHA are:

- A training program was not developed and put in place ensuring all employees working with split rim wheels knew the hazards associated with the rims and were trained in the proper procedures for working on them safely.

- The company did not assure that each employee working with split rim tires showed they could work with the tires through a training program.

- The tire was not deflated by removal of the valve stem.

- The company did not ensure that employees would not strike a multi-piece rim while it was pressurized.

- While working on the multi-piece rim and pressurized tire, the company did not ensure that employees stayed out of an area where the tire and rim might fly off.

OSHA also listed a violation where a written hazard communication program did not include a list of hazardous chemicals and link those to a material data safety sheet.

The list of violations from OSHA said, "a sledge hammer was used to strike the side walls of a large pressurized multi-piece rim."

Mr. Harding, who was urged by his wife not to go into work the day he died, was working as a mechanic at the company. The accident was reported at 9:37 a.m., and Mr. Harding was pronounced dead at 10:18 a.m.

Mr. Harding was changing the tire and rim system on a Terex lifting machine at the time of the accident. The thick, 6-foot-high rubber tire came off with massive force, police said.

The Terex Superstacker moves large containers off trucks or railroad cars and stacks them. Intransit handles containers from abroad and must comply with safety precautions outlined by U.S. Customs.