Despite a drop in enforcement and staffing under the Trump administration, OSHA has issued some massive fines in recent violations cases.

A million plus for Ohio  company

Dowa THT America Inc., a metal heat treatment company based in Bowling Green, Ohio faces $1,326,367 in penalties for exposing its employees to atmospheric, thermal, electrical, and mechanical hazards as they performed maintenance inside heat-treating furnaces.

OSHA cited the company for 25 willful, serious, and other-than-serious violations for hazards related to confined spaces, falls, machine guarding, respiratory protection, chemical exposures, and electrical equipment. The company also failed to provide adequate personal protective equipment, and train their employees on hazards in the facility.

$188K in Wisconsin

A Beloit, Wisconsin pallet manufacturer faces $188,302 in penalties for safety and health violations. OSHA cited Avid Pallet Services LLC after a follow-up inspection found employees continued to be exposed to wood dust.

Inspectors determined that the pallet manufacturer failed to implement sufficient engineering controls to limit dust exposure, as well as train employees on the health hazards of wood dust. OSHA had previously cited the company for these hazards in 2016. Additional citations were issued after the follow-up inspection for failing to evaluate respiratory hazards, medically evaluate and fit test employees using respirators, inform employees of their right to see exposure records, and use adequate machine guarding on band saws.