Region 6 News Release: 12-357-DAL
Feb. 28, 2012
Contact: Elizabeth Todd Juan Rodriguez
Phone: 972-850-4710 972-850-4709
Email: todd.elizabeth@dol.gov rodriguez.juan@dol.gov

US Labor Department announces legal action by US attorney's office against
San Antonio Lath & Plaster for failing to pay workplace safety fines
Lawsuit seeks to collect more than $234,000 in penalties assessed by OSHA for violations

SAN ANTONIO – The U.S. attorney's office in San Antonio has filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas against San Antonio Lath & Plaster Inc. to collect $234,450 in delinquent fines assessed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for workplace safety violations.

The fines are associated with 26 citations issued by OSHA during the course of six inspections at the San Antonio-based company's various job sites in Texas between February 2007 and December 2010.

The company had 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. When the company failed to respond, the citations became final orders of the commission, and the penalties became due.

"Employers who violate safety and health laws and refuse to pay penalties for those violations will be held accountable," said James Culp, the department's regional solicitor in Dallas. "The Labor Department will not hesitate to pursue employers who disregard their responsibilities."

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.