The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Republic Engineering Products, Inc., Lorain, Ohio, for alleged willful, serious and repeated workplace safety violations.

The citations are the result of the agency's investigation of a Jan. 27, 2005 fatality in which a worker was struck by two nearly 500-pound bars. The worker had been attempting to rig several bundled bars to an overhead crane when they were unexpectedly ejected from a conveyor adjacent to the work area. As the result of its investigation, OSHA issued citations for one alleged willful violation, two serious and one repeat violation of workplace health and safety standards primarily involving a lack of machine guarding and failure to protect workers from loads suspended overhead.

"Strong enforcement is a key element in reducing workplace injuries and illnesses," said OSHA Area Director Jule Jones, Toledo. "The significant penalty of $98,500 in this case demonstrates our commitment to protecting the health and safety of American workers."

Republic has been the subject of four previous inspections since January 2004, including one that resulted in nine citations for violations of OSHA standards. Among items cited in the earlier inspection were several related to machine guarding.

The company has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to appeal before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.