OSHA Inspection: TEXAS EZ MONEY, LP

Issued

Apr 8, 2011

Abate by

Apr 18, 2011

Penalty

Initial $7,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer does not
furnish employment and a place of employment which are free from
recognized hazards that
are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees
in that employees
are exposed to workplace violence:
During the performance of regularly assigned duties, employees of Texas EZ
Money, LP,
who work at the loan service store #44032, are exposed to workplace
violence hazards that
are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.  This violation was
discovered on or about
October 29, 2010, at a workplace located at 2774 E. Trinity Mills, Suite
104, Carrollton, TX
75006; where the employer did not develop and implement adequate measures
to protect
employees from physical assault in the workplace.
Among other methods to correct the recognized hazard, one feasible and
acceptable method
is to follow OSHA 3153-12R 2009, Recommendations for Workplace Violence
Prevention
Programs which include but are not limited to the following:
1.Conduct a physical security survey and assessment of premises which
considers (a)
Workplace design: Reduce the risk of robbery through counter design and
layout. The
layout should maximize employee safety, limiting customer access to
employee work
areas; (b) Security devices; (c) Parking lot design/vehicular traffic flow.
2.Implement a workplace violence policy and prevention program and ensure
the policy
and prevention program is communicated to employees.  Develop an effective
training
program that focuses on workplace violence prevention hazards, including
recognition
of behavioral cues preceding violence. Train employees on scenarios likely
to be
encountered during an armed robbery/assault, and actions employees are
expected to
implement during an armed robbery/assault.  Develop an effective
organizational
policy and training procedures, which focuses on detailed procedures for
opening/
closing/ money-drop to the safe.  Ensure training is conducted routinely
(monthly /
quarterly). Ensure management officials are involved in the process.
3.Adopt a process that encourages employees to report workplace violence,
and develop
a means of tracking employee complaints and address employee concerns about
violence in the workplace.
4.Employee Scheduling: (a) Ensure employees are not assigned shifts of
work alone; (b)
Analyze employee mix for any given work shift.
5.Establish a rapport with the local Police department. Engage local
government
officials to find ways to improve local response times.
Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the
abatement date, the
employer must submit an abatement plan describing the actions it is taking
to
develop and
implement procedure to protect employees from physical assault in the
workplace.