The federal government on Thursday said it is seeking to fine the Timken Co. $170,500 for 12 safety violations it said it found in a June inspection at the company’s Canton roller bearings plant on Gambrinus Avenue, where 300 people work.
Government documents did not note any instances where employees were injured.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said there were five repeat safety violations, including failing to machine guard “ingoing nip points, points of operation and rotating parts.”
The company also failed to provide guard rails on elevated platforms and did not make sure that unused electrical boxes were closed, OSHA said.
Repeat violations occur when an employer has previously been cited for similar or same violations at the same or other facilities within the past five years. OSHA said it found similar violations at the Harrison and Gambrinus plants in Canton dating to 2007.
OSHA said it found seven serious violations that included failing to reduce the pressure for compressed air used in cleaning to 30 pounds per square inch or less; failing to clean oily wood floors; failing to conduct annual training regarding portable fire extinguishers; failure to ensure workers had “personal lockout devices” to prevent the unintentional release of hazardous energy, and failure to adjust machine guarding.
Timken has 15 days from receipt of the citations to comply, or request an informal conference, or to contest the citations and penalties, OSHA said.
Timken did not return a phone message seeking comment. Shares closed down 0.07 percent to $45.52.
