OSHA fines two area companies after roof collapse (42 serious violations=$167,000)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2008/11/17/daily3.html

Monday, November 17, 2008 - 12:43 PM CST

A Leeds-based metals company and its subcontractor are being fined $167,000 by the federal government for violations surrounding a roof collapse at the local manufacturing plant in May.

M&B Metal Products and its subcontractor Oak Mountain Construction Co. received the fines from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

After a roof caved in at M&B’s manufacturing plant in Leeds, an OSHA visit revealed 46 alleged safety and health violations, said a news release.

The violations for M&B include one for allowing explosive paper dust to accumulate on equipment and the floor, 42 serious violations related to employees’ health and one other-than-serious violation, said the release.

Oak Mountain Construction received two serious safety violations for exposing employees to fall hazards and not conducting on-site inspections of roof repairs. The company was repairing the roof when it collapsed, said the release.

The two companies have 15 business days to contest the penalties.