CONCORD, N.H. (Sept. 9, 2011)—Stowe Woodward L.L.C., manufacturer of polymeric covers for large metal rollers for the paper industry, faces prospective fines of $176,000 from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for alleged health and safety violations at its Concord plant.
OSHA inspectors visited Stowe Woodward's Concord facility on four dates in March, April, July and August 2011, according to the two citation documents OSHA issued Sept. 6.
In those documents, the agency said it found two willful violations, 11 serious violations and three other-than-serious violations at the Concord plant.
The willful violations involved several instances in which Stowe Woodward allegedly failed to develop, document or utilize lockout procedures for various grinders, extruders, lathes and mixers at the facility. The company also did not provide lockout/tagout training for its employees, the agency said.
Also classified as a willful violation was Stowe Woodward's alleged failure to provide machine guarding to protect workers from rotating parts and ingoing nip points on various grinders, extruders and lathes. For the willful violations, OSHA recommended total fines of $125,000.
The serious violations included alleged storage of propane cylinders near an exit door; alleged failure to examine three forklift trucks before putting them into service; and failure to inspect five cranes at the worksite on a daily basis. The recommended fines for the serious violations totaled $49,000.
The other-than-serious violations involved alleged failure to correctly document work-related injuries and update the plant's respiratory protection program. Fines for these violations totaled $2,000.
Stowe-Woodward had 15 business days from receipt of the citations to decide whether to pay the fines, meet with OSHA officials or contest the agency's findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
A spokesman for the company said it would meet with OSHA officials. “We certainly will do what's necessary to ensure the health and safety of our employees,” he said.