The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has again cited a Texas steel plant operator for safety violations, the latest citation coming two years after the company was added to OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
OSHA said it cited El Paso-based Kyoei Steel Ltd., which operates as Vinton Steel LLC, for five “repeat” and two “serious” violations and proposed $269,631 in penalties after investigators said the company continues to endanger workers.
The agency said there had been 10 workplace safety incidents in the past five years at the plant, five of which involved employee amputations, and that the company continues to expose workers to numerous hazards.
OSHA said Kyoei Steel failed to keep workers clear of loads lifted by slings, didn’t have proper machine guarding, failed to have fire extinguishers in good operating condition, failed to ensure workplace respiratory fitment testing, and failed to complete medical evaluations to determine workers’ ability to use respirators.
Kyoei Steel, which is based in Osaka, Japan, but operates the Vinton Steel plant in El Paso, has 15 business days to contest the citation and proposed penalties.
