American Cap Co. cited by OSHA

Staff report

Wheatland, Pa.

A Mercer County company faces $45,100 in safety fines from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

OSHA on Thursday cited Wheatland, Pa.-based American Cap Co. LLC for 22 safety and health violations.

Proposed penalties total $45,100 and follow an OSHA inspection that targets industries with high injury and illness rates.

American Cap Co. LLC is a manufacturer of cylinder caps and compressed-gas cylinder products that employs about 80, according to its website.

A company representative declined to comment Thursday afternoon.

The serious violations include failure “to properly guard machines, provide effective welding equipment, protect workers from direct exposure to laser radiation, provide guarding on a laser cutting machine and provide proper eye protection for employees working around laser radiation.”

A serious violation occurs when there is a strong probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard for which the employer knew or should have known.

“Each of these violations left workers vulnerable to hazards that could cause serious injuries or quite possibly death,” said Theresa A. Naim, OSHA’s area director in Erie. “Employers have a legal responsibility to provide employees with safe and healthful workplaces.”

American Cap Co. has 15 business days to comply, ask for an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.