Region 6 News Release: 11-197-DAL
Feb. 22, 2011
Contact: Juan Rodriguez Elizabeth Todd
Phone: 972 850-4709 972 850-4710
E-mail: rodriguez.juan@dol.gov todd.elizabeth@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA fines San Antonio manufacturing
company for serious workplace safety and health hazards

SAN ANTONIO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Aggregate Plant Products Co. with 12 serious and four other-than-serious violation following a safety and health inspection at the company's San Antonio facility. Proposed penalties total $45,900.

"This company exposed its workers to numerous safety and health hazards," said Jeff Funke, OSHA's area director in San Antonio. "In this case, it is fortunate that no one was injured."

OSHA began its inspection on Dec. 8, 2010, at the company's facility on N. W.W. White Road, where employees manufacture equipment used in the oil and gas industry. The planned inspection was initiated as part of OSHA's Site-Specific Targeting National Emphasis Program.

Serious citations allege a failure to provide training on the use of forklift equipment; provide the required machine guarding; correct electrical deficiencies, such as replacing missing grounding prongs on electrical equipment and allowing employees to use extension cords as permanent wiring; repair exposed fixture wiring; and correctly mount switches and outlets. A serious violation is one in which there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The other-than-serious citations allege that the company failed to repair broken safety sight glass on a welding regulator and properly certify injury and illness forms. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's San Antonio area director or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Employers and employees with questions about workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA's San Antonio Area Office at 210-472-5040 or the agency's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) to report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audiotape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.