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Region 6 News Release:   USDL-OSHA-00-09-2-7
Mon. Feb. 7, 2000
Contact: Diana Petterson
PHONE: (214) 767-4776, ext. 222

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Leedar, Inc., in Shawnee, Okla., with 24 alleged safety and health violations and proposed penalties of $106,500, announced the U.S. Department of Labor.

Leedar, Inc., manufactures heavy duty air filters and employs about 29 workers at its Shawnee facility. The OSHA citations resulted from an OSHA investigation that was began Aug. 5, 1999 which was initiated by a complaint.

OSHA cited the company with three willful, 14 serious and seven other-than-serious violations.

The three willful violations were for failure to provide appropriate personal protective equipment and proper machine guarding on the press brakes and the mechanical power presses. A willful citation is defined as an intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

The 14 serious violations were for blocking emergency exits, improperly storing metal materials that could fall on employees, lack of housekeeping in the work areas, improper machine guarding of the mechanical power presses. A serious violation is one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result.

The seven other-than-serious violations were for improper use of flammable liquids in proximity to sources of ignition; the location and inspection of fire extinguishers and incomplete record keeping.

Leedar, Inc. has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the area director or to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.