HARTFORD, CT – West Hartford Stairs and Cabinets was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 16 serious violations of workplace safety and health standards at its 17 Main St. manufacturing plant in Newington.

The inspections by OSHA's Hartford Area Office in response to an April 14, 2014, accident in which an employee lost parts of two fingers in a machine. The manufacturer of stairs and cabinets now faces $60,200 in fines.

"Disturbing were the fire, chemical and electrical hazards identified during our inspections,: said Warren Simpson, OSHA's area director in Hartford.  

OSHA says it found that employees were exposed to fire hazards from a dust collection system that lacked a spark detector to prevent hot metal from entering the dust collector and igniting an explosion.

Other hazards cited were improper disposal of flammable rags; accumulations of flammable chemicals on spray booth walls; combustible dust in electrical outlets; and failure to have at least two emergency exits from the spraying room where flammable liquids were used.

Additional safety hazards listed by OSHA included employees' exposure to falls from an unguarded second-story work platform; inadequate safety glasses; failure to wear gloves with chemicals; 

West Hartford Stairs and Cabinets has 15 business days to comply, meet informally with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.