WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A blast at a fertilizer plant that devastated a small central Texas town has now cost the facility's parent company a $118,300 fine, an official said Thursday.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration levied the fine for 24 workplace violations revealed when the West Fertilizer Co.'s stockpile of ammonium nitrate caught fire and blew up in April, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Senate environment and public works committee, announced the fines.
No information about the fines was available from OSHA's website, which is closed because of the government shutdown.
OSHA found the company failed to train and license its forklift operators, Boxer said. The company also failed to pressure test replacement hoses on chemical tanks, had inadequate safety valves, and had no emergency plan or fire extinguishers.
Boxer said the agency's investigation is not completed.
The blast in West killed at least 15 people and injured more than 160. More than 150 buildings were damaged or destroyed.
