OSHA fines Auburn company $816K over work hazards
Formed Fiber Technologies, an Auburn-based manufacturer of automotive fabrics and fibers, is facing an $816,500 fine and 14 safety citations after a federal workplace safety regulator said the company provided false documentation claiming that previous work hazards had been corrected.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the citations and proposed fine on Wednesday for the company’s plant in Sidney, Ohio.
OSHA said in a statement that the Sidney plant received citations for nine willful and four repeated safety violations “for continuously exposing employees to amputations and other hazards” and failing to abate previously cited violations.
“Formed Fiber Technologies apparently decided that production was more important than ensuring its workers’ safety,” Dr. David Michaels, OSHA’s assistant secretary of labor. “They provided false abatement documentation to OSHA. They knew how hazardous these machines were without proper safeguards and also knew exactly how to fix those hazards. OSHA will not tolerate such blatant disregard for worker safety.”
The company, which was previously cited for 11 violations last October, has 15 days to pay the fine and comply with regulations, “request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings” before an independent commission.
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