Powder maker Black Mag levied big $$ fine

[necchi]

http://www.reliableplant.com/Read/27139/Gun-powder-manufactured-fined

[SHOOTALL]

It would be interesting to see what happens after the informal hearing. This is where a company can ask for reduced fines. Often if a company will agree to and show proof that the amount reduced was used for safety training and to put safety mesures in place they do get them reduced. But these being willful that may not be an option. Also when a supervisor put people to work in danger of losing their life he can face charges in the construction standards. I would guess this is under the general standard and not sure how it reads . This is a very bad deal in this day and time. No one should have such disrespect for workers . OSHA can make the fines high enough to put a company out of business it it does not meet standards .

[necchi]

I'm guessing they'll take a reduced $$ on the fines,,but with the "willfullness" of these charges it'll give ammo for a major liability suit for the familys of those lost.

Then in typical corrprate fashion, file bankrupcy, close the plant and open under a new name.

[SHOOTALL]

The other effect is OSHA uses a computer to decide which jobs have the most problems and warrant an inspection. Its a good policy in that it dosen't waste time on industry that shows no injury. BUT when you consider the few cos. that make gun powder in the US it might be a high % ratio now with this accident and violation. Thus all makers may very well be in for inspections . Again this may not be a bad thing as OSHA's job is to protect workers and old industry often makes little improvment as long as no problems pop up. There may be others doing things that can be done in a safer way. If I were in that industry I would be asking for a complimentry inspection with time given to meet standards and recieve no fines . Yes We do this and it is a good thing , They will allow time to budget and get up to date on most things . Only where life is at stake will they demand compliance right then. But to be honest that isn't bad if a life is saved.
 OSHA gets a bad name sometimes . I have had about 8-9 inspections on the job and only one inspector was out to get someone . He found no violation on the job site , no violation in the paper work , An employee on site could locate a MSDS sheet in alloted time. He had watched and filmed site for a couple days before inspection so he went to the company office and wrote a citation because there was no MSDS sheet for the brand white out being used. There was a sheet for another brand that said same thing. A couple years later the standard was revised to allow only one MSDS sheet per product . All other inspections were above board and in the end helpful really.

[Forestclimber]

Somebody is lucky they are not in jail on manslaughter charges.  !.2 mil could be small compared to the civil suit the deceased employees' families may file.

[Swampman]

More jobs lost.

[coyotejoe]

How many would have been eager to go back to work for those people?  I've worked for people who considered safety to be just a bother best avoided and I knew I had to look out for myself but if the whole plant blows there is no way one individual can keep himself safe. Rather like the Gulf disaster. Everyone on that rig knew the blow-out preventer was ruined and they were just living on luck from that point on until their luck ran out but the BP engineer in charge said "keep pushing tool."

[SHOOTALL]

How many would have been eager to go back to work for those people?  I've worked for people who considered safety to be just a bother best avoided and I knew I had to look out for myself but if the whole plant blows there is no way one individual can keep himself safe. Rather like the Gulf disaster. Everyone on that rig knew the blow-out preventer was ruined and they were just living on luck from that point on until their luck ran out but the BP engineer in charge said "keep pushing tool."

I remember when hard hats were first used. Saw a guy throw everyone a hard hat and say if you see OSHA comming put it on    But that was the way it was for many years in construction.