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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8151
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
today issued citations alleging 61 violations of workplace safety standards
with proposed penalties totaling $1,115,500 against CF&I Steel, L.P., in
Pueblo, Colo., following a complaint investigation.
Five instance-by-instance willful citations specifically
addressed fall protection for workers on unguarded work platforms. Three
additional willful citations covered unsafe electrical components on cranes,
failure to properly inspect and maintain fire extinguishers, and the lack of
flash protection on oxygen-acetylene torches.
"This company has been inspected ten times in the past
three years, and two years ago received citations for some of these same
issues," said Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor Gregory W. Watchman, who
heads OSHA. "Yet, these types of violations continue to exist, and CF&I's
blatant disregard for its employees' safety has put lives in jeopardy. Employee
safety cannot be an afterthought; it must be a top priority."
OSHA also cited the company for 37 alleged serious
violations covering crane safety, elevator deficiencies, tripping hazards,
defective ladders, blocked exits, and unsafe electrical components and wiring.
The mill also received 16 alleged repeat violations addressing such items as
additional fall protection violations, unguarded floor holes, blocked exits,
personal protective equipment, unsafe electrical equipment and wiring, and
defective forklifts.
"Every employee should be able to work without fear of
injury or death," said Watchman. "But at CF&I, inadequate fall protection
placed many workers in grave danger. This clear indifference for employee
welfare warrants a high penalty."
Watchman said the OSHA investigation discovered that
management failed to correct conditions earlier identified by the CF&I
Steel Mill joint labor/management safety committee, as well as previous OSHA
inspections.
CF&I Steel, a subsidiary of Oregon Steel Mills, Inc.,
is a steel manufacturing foundry that produces steel wire, seamless steel tube,
and steel rail, along with other associated steel products. The facility
employs approximately 1,450 employees on a full-time basis.
Willful violations are defined as those committed with an
intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the OSH
Act and regulations.
A serious violation is defined as one in which there is
substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and
the employer knew or should have known of the hazard. Repeat violations are
those in which a standard, which has been cited against the company within the
last three years, is observed as violated.
CF&I Steel has 15 working days to contest the
citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and
Health Review Commission.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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