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OSHA Penalizes Sheffield Steel for Failing to Correct Safety Violations
03/05/2004 - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations to Sheffield Steel Corp. of Sand Springs, Okla., for failing to correct previous safety violations. The Department has proposed $81,500 in penalties for the alleged violations.
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OSHA defines a serious violation as one that involves a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and when the employer knew or should have known of the hazard. OSHA had previously cited the company for six alleged serious violations for failing to provide the necessary respiratory protective equipment to guard against exposure to dust, failing to repair defective cutting-torch hose connections and failing to implement lockout/tagout procedures to make sure the energy source is properly tagged and locked before used. OSHA defines a repeat violation as one for which the employer has been cited during the past three years for substantially similar infractions of the law. OSHA recently cited the company for five alleged repeat violations, based on citations issued in 2001, for failing to provide covers or guardrails to prevent employees from falling into open pits, failing to properly identify confined space areas and failing to make electrical disconnects accessible. |
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations to Sheffield Steel Corp. of Sand Springs, Okla., for failing to correct previous safety violations. The Department has proposed $81,500 in penalties for the alleged violations.
"Putting workers at risk by not following safety procedures is unacceptable," said James Brown, OSHA Area Director in Oklahoma City. "Standards, such as locking out energy sources and providing protective equipment, are designed to protect workers and must be strictly followed to avoid injuries."
OSHA began its follow-up inspection of Sheffield Steel Corp. on Sept. 2, 2003, based on an inspection completed in 2001 that brought the company $62,000 in penalties and citations. Sheffield Steel employs about 613 workers, 410 of whom work in Sand Springs. The company manufactures billets, rebar, steel fence posts and hot rolled bar stock.
Sheffield Steel Corp. has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the Oklahoma City area office, or to contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
The Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries and illnesses, and protecting the health and safety of America's workers.
