OSHA cited C.H. Resources, Niagra Falls, N.Y., and proposed penalties of $126,000 against the firm for two alleged willful violations of OSHA standards.
The action resulted from an investigation following an accident on Nov. 16, in which an employee was seriously injured when he fell about 16 feet from an unguarded platform, according to OSHA.
The firm, a subsidiary of Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp., operates a coal-fired electrical co-generation facility employing about 1,200 workers.
OSHA alleges that the company willfully violated OSHA''s fall protection standard by failing to provide fall protection higher than 6 feet and failing to provide a ladder or the equivalent, which is required whenever there is a break in elevation greater than 19 inches.
Each willful violation carries a proposed penalty of $63,000.
"OSHA is committed to stringent enforcement in those workplaces where employers willfully violate OSHA standards," said David Boyce, OSHA area director. "It is important for employers to know that in cases such as this, we will take aggressive enforcement action so that others are put on notice that disregard for employee safety and health is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated."
C.H. Resources has until May 35 to contest the citations.
by Virginia Sutcliffe