EVENDALE, OHIO — The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed fines of $298,500 against Formica Corp., a Cincinnati-area producer of laminated plastic sheeting and solid surfacing for countertops.
OSHA alleges Formica committed 26 violations of safety rules, including an ``inadequate lock-out program,'' bypassed safety switches on machine guards and lack of fall protection on order pickers, OSHA said.
The firm has 15 days from the Oct. 17 citation date to appeal. Formica has not made a decision whether it will appeal, but will attend an informal settlement conference with the regional OSHA manager, said Mike Williams, Formica safety and health manager.
OSHA said its Cincinnati regional office began the investigation in April after receiving a complaint from a Formica worker.
Formica Corp. employs about 800 at its Evendale facility.