SAFETY HEADLINESSafety
OSHA Proposes Penalties Against 16 Companies at SeverCorr Construction Site
Aug. 10, 2007 The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $72,775 in penalties against 16 companies involved in the construction of the new SeverCorr steel plant near Columbus, Miss.
The penalties follow a series of inspections that were conducted between February and May 2007. The inspections revealed a total of 45 safety and nine health violations. SeverCorr received 13 serious safety and two serious health violations The violations included an unguarded rinse water pit, not developing specific lockout procedures on equipment (to prevent accidental start-up during maintenance), and exposing employees to hazardous chemicals. OSHA is proposing penalties of $24,525 against SeverCorr.
“Building a major manufacturing facility is a complex project," said Clyde Payne, OSHA's Area Director in Jackson. “Companies must constantly monitor their worksites for safety and health concerns.”
As a result of the inspections, System Contracting was cited with six safety and one health violation, with proposed penalties of $15,675. Inspectors found that employees were exposed to fall hazards, unsafe electrical equipment, and materials that were subject to accidental displacement. A System Contracting employee died in April 2007 after being struck by a metal pipe at the construction site.
S.A.F Building Services received five serious safety citations with proposed penalties of $6,000 for improper use of electrical connections and exposing employees to fall hazards.
Inspectors cited Scheuck Steel with four serious safety violations and penalties totaling $5,325 after finding that employees were exposed to fall hazards. A Scheuck Steel employee died at the site in 2006 after being struck by a material-handler forklift.
OSHA proposed additional penalties totaling $21,250 against the 12 other companies for additional alleged safety and health violations.
The companies have 15 working days from receipt of the citations to contest them and the proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.