Tricon Timber LLC reaches an informal settlement with OSHA

According to representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Tricon Timber LLC has reached an informal settlement for the 27 safety violations filed in Aug. 

Since the safety issues were settled informally, neither party has released an official sum. However the proposed penalties were $128,700 when the violations were filed. 

“The informal meeting settled things between both parties,” Joes Carnevali, an OSHA representative, said. “Tricon did not contest any of the matters.” 

In the most recent summary of OSHA’s case against Tricon, three of the “serious” citations were classified as deleted. 

Tricon was initially cited in Aug. for 27 “serious and repeat” safety violations which according to an OSHA press release involved “failing to ensure that workers are protected from fall hazards by providing standard guardrails, include workers in a fully implemented respiratory protection program, provide adequate personal protective equipment, provide an eyewash and emergency shower station, implement a comprehensive energy control program and guard machines.” 

Each of the citations carried a penalty of $80,190 and the press release states that a serious violation “occurs 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.” 

Two of the repeat violations were a failure to guard augers in the boiler room of Tricon as well as failing to guard the shaft ends on stackers. 

Each of the repeat violations carried a penalty of $48,510. 

“A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years,’ the press release reads.

Tricon was cited with similar violations in Feb. of 2011. 

“Unfortunately, this employer is not taking the steps needed to ensure that workers have a safe and healthful workplace,” Jeff Funke, OSHA’s Billings Director, said. 

“In addition to a wide range of other dangers, Tricon Timber continues to expose workers to the same hazards cited last year, and OSHA is taking these repeat violations seriously.” 

Attempts to contact Tricon Timber were unsuccessful.