3 NW Ohio firms fined for safety violations

3/9/2012

Three northwest Ohio companies have been fined a combined $39,320 for safety violations found during federal inspections between August and January.

County Home Remodeling, of Deshler, Ohio, was fined $15,000 after Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found six “serious” violations during inspections between October and January at a work site on U.S. 20 in Swanton. The violations included a lack of safety equipment for employees, no guardrails, nets, or safety systems for workers on elevated surfaces, a lack of proper safety and equipment training, and the use of ladders whose safety rails did not extend properly above the upper landing surfaces being accessed.

Hohenbrink Excavating LLC, of Ottawa, Ohio, was fined $14,520 after inspectors found two “serious” violations and one repeat serious violation during an inspection in December at a site in Ottawa. The two violations were a lack of guardrails or other protection from falling on a raised work surface and no protection system against cave-ins, while the repeat violation was for defective rigging not being removed from service.

J.B. & Co. Inc., of Tiffin was fined $9,800 after inspectors found a repeat “serious” violation during an inspection in October at a site in Tiffin. The violation was for failing to protect employees from the dangers of falling while working on a roof.