OSHA cited Southwestern Wire Inc. of Norman, Okla., for alleged safety and health violations and proposed penalties of $138,150.
Southwestern Wire, a non-union company, employs 160 workers at the Norma site. It is a wire fabrication facility which processes wire rod into galvanized wire and chain-link fabric.
OSHA''s investigation began on July 5, 2000, in response to a complaint alleging unsafe conditions during an emergency response to a large spill of hydrochloric acid.
The company was cited for two willful violations, six serious violations and seven other-than-serious violations of OSHA safety and health standards.
One willful violation is for an inadequate emergency response and other willful is for deficiencies in training for emergency response, hazard communication, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection and bloodborne pathogens.
The serious citations are for deficiencies in the emergency response plan, medical surveillance for emergency response team members, failure to offer Hepatitis B vaccinations, lack of training for lead and cadmium and lack of personal protective equipment for dip tank work.
The other-than-serious citations are for problems with the company''s respiratory protection program.
Southwestern Wire has 15 working days for receipt of the citations to comply or contest them.
by Virginia Sutcliffe