News Release USDL: 95-251
Thursday, June 30, 1995
Contact: Deborah Page Crawford, (202) 219-8151

Ravenswood Aluminum Corp. of Ravenswood, W.Va. has agreed to pay $1,175,000 in penalties proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and significantly improve employee safety and health at its West Virginia facility.

"The health and safety of America's workers is one of our highest national priorities not only at Ravenswood Aluminum but at all six million workplaces in this country," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Joseph A. Dear.

"The most important aspect of this settlement is that Ravenswood will fix the problems quickly so that no other workers will face potentially fatal risks," he said.

On Nov. 9, 1994, OSHA proposed $2.1 million in penalties against Ravenswood Aluminum for violations of OSHA's lockout/tagout standard following a May 13, 1994, accident that killed one employee.

The W.Va. facility has 2,200 employees who are represented by the United Steelworkers of America, Local #5668.

In addition to correcting the cited hazards and paying the $1,175,000 penalty, Ravenswood has agreed to:

• Implement a comprehensive, ongoing energy control program that includes training, periodic inspections and developing procedures;

• Complete the development of its energy control procedures for its casting and reduction plants within six months and for its fabrication plant within 12 months;

• Complete the training for its casting, reduction, and fabrication plant employees within six months;

• Take appropriate action in a timely manner not to exceed 30 days if any periodic inspection reveals that the steps of energy control procedures are deficient;

• Conduct welding testing and training for casting department employees involved in welding within six months and for reduction and fabrication plant within 12 months;

• Report to OSHA at intervals of nine and 18 months the status of its progress in complying with the schedules for completing energy control procedures and welding testing and training;

• Withdraw its notice of contest to the citations and notification of proposed penalty.

OSHA is empowered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to issue standards and rules requiring employers to provide their employees with safe and healthful workplaces and jobsites, and to ensure through workplace inspections that those standards are followed.