OSHA Proposes $60K Fine for Ala. Plant

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed $60,000 in penalties against Citation Corp. for safety and health violations at its Brewton, Ala., manufacturing facility.

"This employer is failing its employees by not protecting them from overexposure to silica, which can cause silicosis, an irreversible respiratory disease," said Ken Atha, OSHA's area director in Mobile.

The manufacturing plant uses silica in its production of ductile iron castings.

OSHA inspectors cited Citation Corp. for two repeat violations carrying $50,000 in proposed penalties after finding that employees were exposed to excessive levels of silica, and that the company failed to provide the engineering controls needed to reduce employees' exposure level. The company also did not conduct annual tests to ensure that respirators used by employees were properly fitted. OSHA cited the Brewton location for similar violations in 2006.

The plant also was cited for three serious safety violations with proposed penalties of $10,000 for exposing employees to electrical and fall hazards by not maintaining floors in a dry condition, not ensuring unused electrical openings were effectively closed and not providing strain relief on electrical cords.