Flooring manufacturer exposed workers to willful, serious safety violations, fined $300K by OSHA
An OSHA investigation has determined that Ecore International Inc’s Mexia plant was exposing its workers to various safety and health hazards. The company, which produces commercial flooring and surfaces, was cited for one willful violation and 15 serious violations. These violations include making workers stand on elevated forklift tines to access hard-to-reach areas, allowing combustible dust to build up, failing to provide a safe area for welding, and not implementing required safety guards on various machines. Due to these violations, the company faces $299,591 in proposed penalties. Additionally, an OSHA inspection of Ecore’s plant in Ozark, Alabama, found more violations, including unguarded machines and electrocution and amputation hazards.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, OSHA Area Director Monica Camacho said, “Ecore International must extend the innovation it credits for its company’s success to the safety and health of the people who help make and sell its products. At the company’s Mexia facility, our inspectors found employees forced to climb atop forklifts to do their jobs, workers exposed to potential dangers of fire and explosion, and many unprotected from the risks of falls and unguarded machines, all of which provides a formula for serious or fatal injuries.”
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