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Companies that OSHA places in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) can count on multiple safety inspections with accompanying large fines for infractions.

That’s the situation involving U.S. Minerals LLC.

It started with an inspection at the company’s Baldwin, IL, plant in February 2010. OSHA fined the company $158,200 for nine violations involving failure to have proper fall protection on elevated platforms, lack of proper electrical control devices and improper energy control training for workers.

OSHA conducted a second inspection at the same plant and issued an additional $466,400 in fines for 35 citations for willfully exposing its workers to dangerously high levels of hazardous dust and not providing adequate breathing protection.

The third inspection took place at U.S. Minerals’ Harvey, LA, plant. OSHA issued 30 safety violations totaling $110,400.

At that visit, inspectors found some workers were repairing a machine that wasn’t locked out properly and other workers were filling large bags with processed coal slag without protective eye wear.

The second and third inspections were conducted under OSHA’s SVEP, which focuses enforcement on employers who defy or ignore OSHA regulations. SVEP includes mandatory follow-up inspections and inspections of other worksites of the same company where similar hazards may be present.

Tags: dust, fall protection, follow-up inspections, lockout, Severe Violator Enforcement Program