OSHA fines 2 area firms for safety violations

5/28/2013

Two northwest Ohio companies were fined after safety violations were found during inspections at a manufacturing plant in Erie County and a grain storage site in Fulton County.

Kyklos Bearing International LLC of Sandusky, which produces ball bearings for the auto industry, was fined $65,000 for safety violations that were found during inspections between Oct. 17 and Feb. 21.

Kyklos was cited for 16 violations classified as serious by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The violations mostly related to employees exposed to asbestos while working on a boiler.

The grain storage facility in Archbold was fined $19,530 for violations found between Nov. 29 and March 3.

Gerald Grain Center Inc. of Napoleon was cited for eight serious violations and one other-than-serious violation after OSHA inspectors encountered potential electrical safety hazards for employees involved in changing electrical fuses.

The firms can contest the findings, request a meeting with OSHA officials, or pay the fine.