Sidney casting plant cited for OSHA violations

A Cincinnati-based casting company is under fire from the U.S. Department of Labor after an inspection revealed nearly 15 health and safety violations at its Sidney facility.

Reliable Casting Corp. was cited and fined $293,700 on Wednesday by the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 14 instances of hazardous exposure, according to a release from the federal labor department.

"OSHA's inspectors found a facility with multiple hazards and where safety was continually compromised," OSHA Toledo Area Director Kim Nelson said in a release. "Reliable Castings Corporation has a responsibility to train its workers and to implement all required safety procedures."

Eight serious violations were identified during the inspection where hazards could lead to death or serious injury.

The Sidney plant, which employs about 140 of Reliable Casting Corporation's 270-person workforce, failed to install guardrails near casting ovens and permitted mechanical operations without use of safety gear, according to the release.

The business, which specializes in aluminum castings and mold finishing and repair, also committed four "willful" violations, according to the release, including failure to develop servicing lockout procedures, exposure prevention, daily inspections and use of an unapproved work platform.

The company was placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which involves multiple follow-up inspections.

The company has 15 business days to address the findings and can contest them through an appeals process.

A representative from the Reliable Casting Corp. could not be reached for comment.

-- Contributing Writer Mickey Shuey is a senior at the University of Dayton.

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