CORNWALL, ON, March 5 /CNW/ - Morbern Inc., a Cornwall company that makes decorative vinyl upholstery, was fined $60,000 in the Ontario Court of Justice after a worker's arm became trapped and injured in machinery.

Justice of the Peace L. Leblanc heard that on May 12, 2006, the Morbern Inc. worker was stationed at a printing press when the incident occurred. The worker had reached between two rollers of the press. Just then, a co-worker closed the rollers, which then clamped down on the worker's arm, causing a
fracture.

A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the work station was not equipped with a guard to prevent access to the pinch point as required by the Industrial Regulations and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Morbern Inc. pleaded guilty to failing, as an employer, to ensure that the equipment, materials and protective devices prescribed by section 25 of Ontario Regulation 851 were provided at a workplace located at 80 Boundary
Rd., Cornwall, contrary to section 25(1)(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

March 31 - TAMPA, Fla. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Howard Fertilizer & Chemical Co.'s Groveland, Fla., facility with 23 safety violations and proposed $236,000 in penalties.

"This company is putting its employees' lives at risk by failing to correct serious safety hazards and to educate its employees about these hazards," said Les Grove, OSHA's area director in Tampa.

OSHA has cited the fertilizer manufacturer with failing to fully abate three hazards that OSHA had identified during a previous inspection. The agency has proposed $138,000 in penalties against the company for not informing and training employees about recognized dangers, not installing standard railings on open-sided catwalks, and exposing employees to confined spaces and electrical hazards.

The company has been cited with 12 repeat violations carrying $72,000 in proposed penalties for failing to provide fall protection, not instituting lockout procedures (to prevent accidental energization start-ups) and machine guards on equipment, and exposing employees to numerous electrical hazards.

Eight serious safety violations have been noted and $26,000 in penalties proposed against the company for failing to properly maintain catwalks, roof support beams and electrical equipment.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to contest them and the proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The site was inspected by staff from OSHA's area office in Tampa, 5807 Breckenridge Parkway, Suite A; telephone 813-626-1177.

OSHA operates a vigorous enforcement program, conducting more than 39,000 federal inspections in fiscal year 2007 and exceeded its inspection goals in each of the last eight years. In fiscal year 2007, OSHA cited nearly 89,000 violations of its standards and regulations.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.