EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Nov. 4, 2011)—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing $51,480 in fines against custom mixer American Phoenix Inc. for alleged safety violations at its Eau Claire facility.
OSHA cited American Phoenix for 10 alleged serious health and safety violations and two alleged other-than-serious violations, based on inspections begun in May 2011 as the result of a complaint, according to OSHA Region 5.
Greg Lewis, CEO of American Phoenix, could not be reached for comment.
The serious violations included six related to combustible dust hazards, such as failing to require workers to wear flame-resistant clothing where combustible dust is present; failing to identify or monitor exposure to carbon black dust and other respiratory hazards; and failing to ensure surfaces were free from accumulating dust, asbestos waste, and other hazards.
There also were four serious violations involving alleged electrical hazards, the lack of personal protective equipment, and other issues, OSHA said. The two other-than-serious violations involved use of flexible cords instead of fixed wiring and failing to provide workers with information on voluntary respirator use.
American Phoenix was cited in 2002 for similar violations, the agency said. The company has 15 business days to comply with OSHA's orders, request an informal conference with OSHA's Region 5 director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
According to its website, American Phoenix operates a 575,000-sq.-ft. plant in Eau Claire, a former Uniroyal mixing facility. The company was founded in 1992 when its owners purchased the plant.