Obama Administration fines Meridian, Miss., textile company more than $46,000...

[SidDithers]

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Roytex Inc. in Meridian with 18 serious safety and health violations for exposing workers to electrical hazards, flaking lead paint, asbestos and other hazards. Proposed fines total $46,340.

Following a safety inspection, OSHA has cited Roytex for 14 serious violations with a proposed penalty of $33,740. The hazards include failing to provide fixed stairs and railings where required; lack of a back-up alarm for a powered industrial truck; failing to block the wheels of trailers being loaded and unloaded; several electrical deficiencies; and failing to provide machine guarding at pinch points between the belt and pulley on the conveyor.

A separate health inspection revealed four serious violations with $12,600 in proposed penalties. These include failing to treat and label insulation-containing asbestos; monitoring for employee exposure to asbestos; failing to keep surfaces free from accumulation of lead from flaking and pealing wall paint; and failing to provide a written hazard communication program addressing how to work safely with hazardous chemicals.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=19173

I'm glad the Obama administration is holding employers accountable for worker safety.

Sid

[gateley]

1. Seriously, we need to send a message of support so they know we're aware and

that we DO care.

Thanks for posting this! :hi:

[SidDithers]

2. My pleasure...

:hi:

Sid

[gateley]

4. It's always an effort for me to remember to send thanks and support - it's almost

automatic to whip out an angry tirade! :7: :hi:

The supportive ones probably are more effective anyway. :shrug:

[TheWraith]

3. It's a shame that OSHA's penalties are so limited.

In some cases, it's cheaper for the company to risk having to pay a fine than it is to comply with the law.

[gateley]

5. Yeah, I was thinking that, too. The amount seemed almost paltry in comparison

to the other sums of money we hear in the news daily.

[lpbk2713]

6. They bring low paying jobs to depressed areas ...

And they think people will be so happy to have a shitty paycheck that they can overlook the conditions.

I'm glad they were caught.