December 03, 2008

Eramet Marietta fined by OSHA

Platts reported that French owned ferroalloys maker Eramet Marietta is undecided if it will contest a USD 28,800 fine levied by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration following an investigation into the fatal fall of an employee at Eramet's manganese ferroalloys plant in Ohio.

A spokeswoman of Eramet said that the US agency's Ohio office issued a safety citation against Eramet in the wake of the January 4 accident in which a 52 year old electrician died after falling from a 30 foot ladder while doing a routine plant inspection.

She said that “Though the citation was not directly related to the death, we obviously appreciate any recommendations that Occupational Safety and Health Administration might make to help us have a safer workplace. We always practice a zero tolerance policy for safety violations.”

She added that "Even before the citation was issued we abated and addressed most of the concerns outlined by Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Obviously, we knew the citation was coming.”

Eramet Marietta has 15 working days to contest the fine.