29 Jul Montana Sugar Plant Faces $193K in Fines
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)
Federal regulators have proposed $193,300 in fines for a Billings, Mont. sugar plant after inspectors discovered 17 health and safety violations.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Monday that The Western Sugar Cooperative has 15 days to contest the agency’s findings.
Among the alleged violations, 12 were considered serious enough to raise the probability of workers being killed or seriously injured. Those included inadequate fire exits, failure to provide railings on stairways, open junction boxes and unsafe use of electrical equipment.
Four violations were considered repeat violations. That means Western Sugar was cited for the same or similar problems at one of its facilities within the last five years.
Representatives of Denver-based Western Sugar did not immediately respond to requests for comment.