OSHA cited Van Leer Containers Inc., La Porte, Texas, with 11 safety and health violations and fined the company $174,000.
Van Leer Containers has agreed to correct the violations and pay the penalty.
The alleged violations were discovered during a July 31, 2000, inspection prompted by an employee complaint.
The serious violations involved several instances of non-compliance with OSHA''s standards for not providing guardrails around dangerous equipment, failing to provide stairway platforms, failing to perform a hazard assessment to determine appropriate personal protective equipment, failing to provide production employees with locks to lock equipment out, failing to remove damaged slings and failing to provide guards for dangerous machines.
The additional violations included allowing employees to clear jams on a daily basis without locking the equipment out; inadequate periodic inspections of the company''s lockout/tagout program; failing to provide adequate lockout/tagout training; and failing to mark electrical circuits to identify their purpose.
"In addition to agreeing to correct the violations and pay the monetary penalty, the company will provide all employees with comprehensive training in lockout/tagout, machine guarding and the use of personal protective equipment," said Ray Skinner, OSHA Houston South area director.
The company will also hire a consultant to conduct safety and health audits of the facility for the next three years.
by Virginia Sutcliffe