OSHA fines Ala lumber mill nearly $2 million

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The federal government said Wednesday it had fined a Phenix City, Ala. lumber yard nearly $2 million for safety violations that included exposing employees to the potential of losing body parts in accidents and severe falls.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it inspected Phenix Lumber Co. in December after workers complained about being exposed to amputation hazards. Workers claimed they were required to work on machines that could start unexpectedly because they lacked safety devices, the government said.

After two employees suffered hand injuries while working on unguarded machinery, OSHA cited the lumber company for violations including failure to properly shut down and lock machines, failure to properly train employees and exposing workers to hazards that had been previously reported but not corrected.

Phenix Lumber has two weeks to either pay the $1.9 million fine for 13 total violations, request an informal conference with the area director or contest the findings.

Jerry Schwarzauer, a forester with Phenix Lumber, said the company denied the allegations and will appeal the findings.

"The company fully cooperated with OSHA during these inspections and in fact was in the midst of working with OSHA to improve its safety management programs and procedures," he said.

OSHA said Phenix Lumber had been cited 77 times for serious safety and health violations since 2007 before the most recent problems. The government fined the southeast Alabama lumber yard $439,400 in September 2010 following the death of one worker and a critical injury to another.

Phenix Lumber officials said were currently reviewing the citations and the company's options.

"The company will continue to improve its safety and health programs and policies to ensure all of its employees return home safely to their homes each night," it said in a statement.

OSHA officials said Phenix Lumber may be included in a program for companies that repeatedly endanger workers by violating standards.