Texas Home Manufacturer Faces $272K Penalty for Safety Violations

An Austin, Texas subsidiary of one of the nation’s largest producers of modular and manufactured homes faces $272,479 in penalties after federal investigators found the company exposing employees to more than two dozen serious violations during an October 2023 inspection.

Investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Cavco Industries Inc., parent company of Palm Harbor Homes, for 25 serious and two other-than-serious violations. Since 2015, OSHA has cited Cavco with 38 workplace safety and health violations at manufacturing facilities in four states.

OSHA initiated the investigations as a planned inspection under the National Emphasis Program Site-Specific Targeting for establishments with high injury rates.

During the inspection, the agency identified the following hazardous conditions:

• Lack of required fall protection, exposing workers to safety hazards related to falls.
• Improper use of ladders and failure to maintain safe walking surfaces.
• Allowing overhead hazards and suspended loads.
• Improperly inspected fire extinguishers.
• Lack of welding screens.
• No safe access to electrical shutoffs and other electrical violations.

In addition, inspectors cited Cavco Industries for more than a dozen health hazards, including failing to maintain respiratory and hazard communication programs to protect workers from isocyanates and silica; not providing employees with personal protective equipment and an eyewash and shower station; and failing to assess silica exposure.Founded in 1965, Cavco Industries Inc. is a Phoenix-based home services enterprise that designs and factory builds structures including manufactured homes, modular homes, commercial buildings, park model RVs and vacation cabins under more than a dozen brand names.

Source: OSHA

Topics Texas Manufacturing