OSHA finds three safety violations

By Bert Lehman

Seagrave Fire Apparatus in Clintonville faces up to $$77,000 in federal fines.

Three safety violations were cited in a press release issued Monday, Aug. 10, from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

A willful violation was issued for “not having guards in place, exposing workers to operating parts of press brakes.”

A serious violation was issued for exposing employees to fall hazards of about 12 feet from working on top of trucks.

Potable water was also not available at all work sites, investigators found.

The proposed penalty is $77,000. Of this amount, $70,000 is for the willful violation, and $7,000 is for the serious violation.

In the press release, Robert Bonack, OSHA’s area director in Appleton, stated, “Fire trucks play an important role in keeping people safe – but the workers manufacturing these trucks were placed in harm’s way because their employer didn’t have safety guards to protect them from moving machine parts. Thousands of workers suffer lacerations, amputations and fractures each year because they’re injured by operating machinery.”

The citation summary, which was issued Aug. 6, stated an OSHA compliance officer met with a Seagrave representative on April 30 to inspect the 105 E. 12th Street location in Clintonville.

The summary included the citations for the violations. It also stated the $77,000 in penalties is due 15 days after receipt of the letter, and the first correction date deadline is Sept. 12.

The summary also stated Seagrave has three options to handle the matter, and must do so within 15 days.

The first option is for Seagrave to discuss the citations with an OSHA representative, which may lead to changes in the penalty amount, due date or correction deadlines.

The second option is for Seagrave to agree with the citations, penalties, and correction deadlines.

The third option is for Seagrave to contest the citation, penalties, and correction deadlines.

The Tribune-Gazette left messages for comment with the Seagrave office, as well as the District 2 office for the United Steelworkers Union, but those messages were not returned before press time.