PARSIPANNY, N.J., July 29 (UPI) -- U.S. regulators have proposed fines of nearly $50,000 for a scenery building company in New Jersey for violations of worker safety laws.
The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Acadia Scenic Inc. of Jersey City, N.J., for 22 safety and health violations, 19 of them deemed serious and two of them deemed willful.
The two willful violations include $28,000 in fines. They were meted out for the lack of guards on a hand-fed circular ripsaw and a crosscut table saw.
A willful violation is one considered either intentional or done "with plain indifference to worker safety," OSHA said.
The 19 violations deemed serious, including the lack of respirators, an accumulation of explosive dust, lack of railings on stairs, and improper placement of fire extinguishers, carry a potential fine of $21,200.
The final violation, not using the proper form for an injury report, carries a fine of $400, OSHA said.
The company has 15 business days to comply, as for additional information, or contest the citations or the penalties.
Contested issues go before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, an independent agency.
