Lima, Lyons firms fined for safety violations

6/2/2007

Two northwest Ohio employers have been assessed fines of $14,700 by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for safety violations.

OmniSource Corp., Lima, was fined $4,500 after failing to inform OSHA Nov. 30 that three employees were hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning. Agency investigators found they had been exposed to carbon monoxide at nearly 400 percent of acceptable limits. The company originally was fined $10,000, but the amount was reduced to $5,500. The firm did not contest the citation.

Also, B.W. Grinding Inc., Lyons, faces $10,200 in penalties for a dozen safety violations involving faulty equipment, excessive noise, lack of proper protective wear, and employee exposure to potentially hazardous fumes. The problems were discovered in inspections in January, although citations weren t issued until May 17. The company has 15 working days to contest the citation.

Company officials at both firms couldn t be reached for comment.