The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has
proposed $497,000 in fines for Behr Iron & Steel, Inc. These fines come as a result of seven
willful and one serious safety violations following an inspection of their South Beloit, Illinois
facility. This inspection was in response to a fatal accident in March.
“A wife and two little girls lost their husband, father and livelihood because Behr Iron &
Steel knowingly exposed this worker to highly dangerous equipment with no safeguards,”
said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration. “For this family, the American dream is now a nightmare. Behr Iron & Steel
needs to be held accountable for its history of failing to protect their workforce.”
The citations included violations of the confined space regulations; lockout tagout energy control
procedures; improper training, procedures, and practices for safe entry into the shredder pit; and
improperly warning employees about the dangers of the shredder pit.
This is the unfortunate realty that you expose your workers to if you do not properly safeguard
your facility. This is why it is imperative to have adequate occupational safety and health
standards and procedures in place. If you do not have a full and complete plan, or if you are not
satisfied with the quality of your plan, it is best to contact a professional occupational safety and
health management company to help you develop your procedures.
If you have any questions about establishing an occupational safety and health plan, please
contact us. If you have anything to add about the importance of having a complete plan, please
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