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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