New Braunfels company fined by OSHA

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (KXAN) - A business in New Braunfels has been fined by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration after allegations of exposing workers to electrical and machine guarding hazards .

According to OSHA, BMC Building Materials and Construction Services Inc. was cited for seven serious violations after a safety inspection on Oct. 3, 2012, with fines likely reaching $41,000.

The BMC facility, located on FM 482, builds prefabricated wood trusses, OSHA says, without requiring machine guarding while saws were in operation.

OSHA says the investigation was spurred by a complaint about unsafe working conditions and machine hazards.

“The lack of machine guarding can lead to serious injuries, including amputations,” said Casey Perkins, OSHA’s area director in Austin. “OSHA’s standards must be followed to prevent accidents, injuries and illnesses.”

Inspectors also say the company violated safe work conditions by not covering rotating shafts on machines, as well as protecting wiring and maintaining safe conditions for electrical cords.

OSHA typically issues a serious violation when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. The governing agency says the issues which caused violations can be controlled.

BMC has 15 days to comply with OSHA or to request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director in Austin. The company also has the right to contest the citations and penalties before the Independent OSHA Review Commission.