ALJ Decision in PMI International Stone Importers, OSHRC Docket No. 19-0372, Becomes a Final Order of the Commission.
Respondent, P.M.I. International Stone Importers (“PMI”), is a company “engaged in [the] business of buying and selling stone slabs which are shipped to [R]espondent from various international locations” with its principal office and place of business located in Marlboro, New Jersey. (Joint Pre-Hr’g Statement ¶ 4.1). Following a worker’s injury on September 4, 2018, the local police referred the matter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) for investigation. (Id. at ¶¶ 4.2 & 4.3) On February 20, 2019, OSHA’s investigation resulted in the issuance of a one-item citation (the “Citation”) to Respondent, alleging a serious violation of section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. §§ 651-678 (the “Act”). Specifically, the Citation alleged that Respondent’s employees were “exposed to struck-by, caught in between and crushed-by hazards while they worked consistently within the fall shadow of approx. 7000 lb. bundles o[f] stone slabs without protection of bracing or supports.” (Citation at 6). The Citation proposed a penalty of $5,304. (Id. at 7).