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Region 6 News Release: USDL-OSHA-98-110-12-11
Friday, December 11, 1998
Contact: Diana Petterson or Beverly Sepulveda (214) 767-4776, ext. 222 or 221

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Solar Turbines, Inc.,TurboFab Facility in Channelview, Texas, for alleged safety and health violations with proposed penalties of $132,750, announced the U.S. Department of Labor.

Solar Turbines, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., is headquartered in San Diego, CA. The company, which employs about 483 workers in the Channelview facility produces gas turbine engines used for oil and gas production and transmission, industrial power generation, and marine propulsion applications.

The OSHA investigation, which began in May, was part of OSHA's Interim Targeting Systems inspections where companies with a higher than average industry standard for loss work day injury and illness rates are inspected.

The company was cited for 38 serious violations and three other-than-serious violations. Some of the serious violations include such matters as machine guarding, anchoring fixed machines, first aid training, properly marked exit signs, operable fire extinguishers, personal protective equipment and emergency action plan training.

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

The other-than-serious violations address OSHA's record keeping requirements.

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