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Region 6 News Release: USDL-OSHA-98-90-10-14
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1998
Contact: Diana Petterson or Beverly Sepulveda, (214) 767-4776, ext. 222 or 221

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Cimarron Cedar Co. Of Guthrie, Okla., for alleged safety and health violations with proposed penalties of $218,000 announced today by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The OSHA investigation began last April following complaints that employees were working in unsafe conditions. OSHA found that workers were permitted to work in these conditions in violation of a number of OSHA standards and that the company management was aware of the standards. Cimarron Cedar is in the business of sawmill operations, manufacturing fencing, mailbox kits and bagged wood shavings and has approximately 31 employees at the site.

The company was cited for six willful violations of safety and health standards and 18 serious violations.

The six willful violations were for failure to provide free and clear egress from the employee's work areas and exits; failure to provide potable water, adequate toilet and washing facilities; failure to establish an energy control procedure, training, and provide appropriate locking and tagging devices for those employees servicing and maintaining equipment; failure to cover belts and pulleys; failure to institute an effective hearing conservation program, and failure to provide hearing protectors.

A willful violation is defined as an intentional disregard of safety standards.

The 18 serious violations involved failure to remove excessive wood refuse; failure to assure, medical personnel were utilized; failure to make first aid supplies available; failure to provide training to those employees involved in providing first aid; failure to guard woodcutting equipment, failure to eliminate fire hazards; failure to provide adequate electrical integrity throughout the workplace; failure to monitor noise levels when required; and a failure to provide proper eye and face protection.

A serious violation is one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious harm could result.

Cimarron has 15 days from the receipt of the citations to either comply or to contest the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.