REPUBLIC TECHNOLOGIES HEADLINESSteel Producers /
Republic Technologies
OSHA Levies $82,500 Fine on Republic Engineered Products
Oct. 23, 2009 The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Republic Engineered Products Inc. in Lorain, Ohio, with one alleged willful and one alleged repeat citation of federal workplace safety and health standards. Proposed fines total $82,500.
OSHA began a follow-up safety inspection at the Lorain site in April to verify that previous violations had been corrected and that the company remained in compliance with OSHA standards. The inspection revealed a willful violation for fall hazards and a repeat violation for failure to conduct inspections necessary for the control of lead exposure.
The company has been inspected by OSHA 44 times nationwide since 1991, including three fatality investigations, and has received a total of 183 citations. There are currently 150 workers at the Lorain site and a total of 500 workers companywide.
OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health. OSHA issues repeat violations when a substantially similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule, or order is found at any other facilities in federal enforcement states.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director in Toledo, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.