Lancaster Glass will pay $61,710 in fines

Last month´s citation marked the second time OSHA cited the company in 2005. A company´s good faith and willingness to meet the violations are reasons why fines are reduced, said Dave Wilson, assistant area director for OSHA´s Columbus office.

David A. Gallimore, president of Lancaster Glass, declined to comment about the settlement. "The resolution is what it is," Gallimore said Wednesday. The company agreed to a payment plan and has until July 1, 2007, to pay the fines. The company admits no guilt by reaching an agreement, rather the company entered into a settlement to avoid litigation, according to information from OSHA.

Lancaster Glass employs 150 people. The company manufactures industrial glass and lighting components for various industries, including indoor and outdoor lighting industries, avionics and the military. It ranked 17th among the top 20 largest private employers in Fairfield County in the spring 2005, according to the Fairfield County Economic Development Office. The ranking is based upon the number of workers.

The first OSHA citation was issued in January 2005 for overexposures to lead and other potential dangers to employees´ health. The fines totaled $18,900 and were paid. The most recent citation was received Dec. 2 for 36 "serious" violations found during a facility inspection this summer. The fines totaled $121,000. Any fine above $100,000 is a significant penalty amount.

The violations included regulations dealing with guardrails for open-sided floors, platforms and runways; proper construction of fixed ladders; appropriate personal protective equipment; adequate machine guarding; electrical and welding hazards; grinding wheel safety; and storage of welding cylinders.

Lancaster Glass has been inspected 14 times since 1986, resulting in 62 serious and six other-than-serious violations prior to 2005. Other-than-serious violations don´t generally carry penalties and are the least serious category of violations