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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (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.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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