A complaint brought OSHA investigators to Transporter Maintenance and Inspection LLC, a subsidiary of L & B Holdings LLC in Port Allen, Louisiana. That inspection resulted in one willful, 27 serious and five other violations for exposing workers to various safety and health hazards, with proposed penalties of $156,800.

Investigation findings: The willful violation was for failing to provide fall protection and some of the 27 serious violations include noise, respiratory, fire and electrical hazards, along with exposure to silica, failing to train industrial truck operators, and not maintaining unobstructed exit routes. The five other violations include ungrounded electrical equipment, unmarked exits and an uncovered electrical outlet box.

"Management knew that workers could have fallen and suffered serious injuries, but they willfully chose not to outfit all the tanker trailers with guardrail systems or provide a personal fall arrest system for the workers," said Dorinda Folse, area director for OSHA's Baton Rouge Area Office.

The company employs about 33 workers at the Port Allen facility and has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.