Rexnord faces $120K in OSHA penalties for violations

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $120,000 in fines against the West Milwaukee, Wis., facility of Rexnord Industries LLC for alleged serious and repeat safety and health violations of federal workplace safety standards.

OSHA opened an inspection at Rexnord Industries in September 2006 after receiving information alleging workplace hazards about indoor air quality and personal protective equipment. One serious and four repeat safety citations, with proposed penalties totaling $115,000, were issued alleging a lack of guarding on chain and sprocket equipment, lack of guarding on mechanical presses and load rams, failure to follow lockout/tagout procedures and lack of mechanical power press inspections.

Rexnord Industries also received $5,000 in proposed penalties for three alleged serious health violations: lack of employee personal protective equipment during exposure to cutting fluids, lack of proper labeling on hazardous chemicals and blocked space around electrical panels. The company also received one other-than-serious violation for aisles not being adequately marked.

"OSHA will do all it can to find safety and health hazards in the workplace and insist they be corrected," said Nick Antonio, OSHA's acting area director in Milwaukee. "These are among the best services we can perform for working men and women."

In the past, Rexnord Industries' west Milwaukee facility has been inspected by OSHA 24 times and has received 71 safety and health citations. The company has 15 working days from receipt of the current citations to appeal them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.