FOSTORIA — A South Korean vinyl tile maker that operates a plant in Fostoria has been fined more than half a million dollars for machine-safety violations found by federal inspectors during two visits to the company’s plant last summer.
Nox Corp., which set up local manufacturing operations in a former auto-parts plant in 2015, was cited for five “Willful” category violations, two “Serious” category violations, and fined $514,236 by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Nox was fined $488,886 for the Willful violations found during inspections in July and August at the Fostoria plant. Another $25,350 in fines were for Serious violations uncovered by inspections in June and July. Both penalties were issued Dec. 21.
OSHA went to Fostoria after two workers were injured in June. One had surgery after his hand was crushed in a tile machine. Less than two weeks later, a worker suffered two partially-amputated fingers while working on a recycled-material system.
OSHA cited the company for failing to use adequate lockout/tagout procedures and devices to prevent unintentional machine movement, failure to train employees, and exposing employees to fall hazards. Nox has been placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
“When dangerous machines are not properly guarded or de-energized, employees face an increased risk of serious injuries,” said Kim Nelson, OSHA’s area office director in Toledo. “Employers must monitor their facilities continuously to ensure workplace safety and health procedures are adequate and effective.”
Under federal rules, a company cited for an OSHA safety violation has 15 business days from receipt of citations and penalties to comply, seek an informal conference with agency officials, or contest the findings before the independent review commission.
Nox has opted to contest the citations, an OSHA spokesman said.
Nox was not the only northwest Ohio company to receive a large fine in December.
Casey Bortles, a roofing contractor at 140 Meilke Rd., Holland, was fined $125,688 for Willful and Repeat safety violations found at a residential work site in Waterville last fall.
OSHA said the contractor exposed employees to falls and other safety hazards at the Colony at Waterville Landing. Inspectors saw five roofers working at heights over 8 feet without adequate fall protection, and employees using nail guns without eye protection. Bortles had been cited for similar violations four times since 2014.
Five other companies were cited and fined a combined $152,284 in December for a variety of violations found the past summer and fall.
— Salgau Roofing Inc., a roofing contractor at 2075 Starr Ave. in East Toledo, was fined $57,943 for exposing workers to head injuries and falling hazards while involved in roof tear-off operations at a Corduroy Road work site in Oregon in September.
— Fresenius USA Manufacturing Inc., a German company that makes medical supplies to aid in dialysis, was fined $41,647 after an August inspection at its plant at 750 N. Lallendorf Rd., Oregon, found violations that included falling hazards, exposure to chemical hazards, and no procedures to control powered machinery that included a stainless bottle filler.
— Materion Brush Inc., of 14710 Portage River South Rd., Elmore, which makes alloys, composites, and beryllium products, was fined $25,350 for two Serious violations found in June. Violations involved improper use of lockout-tagout and other power control procedures on a finish pickling line.
— Quality Multi-Services LLC, of 901 Miller Rd., Northwood, a roofing, siding, and insulation contractor, was fined $14,669 after a September inspection at a Maumee work site found multiple falling hazards and failure to provide head, eye, and other protective gear for employees involved in tearing off shingles.
— FiatChrysler was fined $12,675 after a July inspection at the Toledo Assembly Complex that followed an employee injury. A worker suffered a crushed hand while using a personnel lift in a vehicle alignment pit.
Contact Blade Business Writer Jon Chavez at jchavez@theblade.com or 419-724-6128.
First Published January 11, 2018, 1:54 a.m.
