BAE Systems faces $138K OSHA fine for 18 alleged violations

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited BAE Systems Inc. with 16 alleged serious and two alleged repeat violations of federal health and safety regulations following an inspection at the company's facility in Sealy, Texas. Proposed penalties total $138,000.

"Employees should not be exposed to safety and health hazards," said Eric Harbin, area director of OSHA's Austin Area Office. "In this case, this employer failed to protect its employees from multiple machine guarding and compressed air hazards."

OSHA's Austin Area Office began its investigation February 19 on 10 West in Sealy as part of OSHA's Site-Specific Targeting inspection list. Some of the serious violations include failing to ensure walking working surfaces remained clear, failing to provide safe clearances for material handling equipment, failing to provide machine guarding and violations related to the control of hazardous energy, welding and electrical hazards. A serious violation is one in which there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Repeat violations were for failing to guard press brakes and to ensure compressed air used for cleaning had pressures reduced below 30 psi. OSHA defines a repeat violation as one where the employer previously has been cited for the same or similar hazard within the past three years.

Rockville, Md.-based BAE Systems Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems PLC. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Austin, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.