Domtar Maine Corp. Faces $107,000 in OSHA Fines
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Tuesday, June 9, 2009 |
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The
U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has cited paper manufacturer Domtar Maine Corp.
for 29 alleged serious violations of safety standards at its
Baileyville, Maine, pulp mill and proposed a total of $107,000 in
penalties.
"The conditions identified during this inspection
must be addressed completely and effectively," said William Coffin,
OSHA's area director for Maine. "Otherwise, anyone working in this mill
in the future could be exposed to crushing hazards, falls,
electrocution, being caught in moving machine parts, being overcome in
a toxic or oxygen-deficient confined space, or being unable to safely
exit the mill in an emergency."
The citations and fines
encompass a cross-section of hazardous conditions found during an OSHA
inspection opened on Nov. 30, 2008. These included numerous instances
of unguarded moving machine parts; electrical hazards; fall hazards; an
unmarked exit door and inadequately lit exit routes; confined space
hazards; unsanitary eyewash facilities; work areas not maintained in
clean and orderly condition; and no assessment of the workplace to
determine what personal protective equipment workers would need.
In
addition, employees were exposed to crushing, struck-by and other
hazards from unenclosed counterweights on a conveyor and an improperly
maintained conveyor emergency stop cable. OSHA issues serious citations
when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards
about which the employer knew or should have known.
Domtar Maine
Corp. has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed
penalties to comply and pay the penalties, participate in an informal
conference with the OSHA area director or contest them before the
independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The
inspection was conducted by OSHA's Bangor District Office; telephone
207-941-8177.
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