MONTGOMERY, AL – Southeast Forest Products Inc. was cited by the the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for seven repeat and three serious safety and health violations - including worker exposure to noise and combustible dust.

OSHA says an April inspection at the company's 's Southeast Pallet & Box Co., a manufacturer and refurbisher of wooden pallets, resulted in $76,230 in proposed penalties and was initiated as part of OSHA's local emphasis program on noise reduction. Southeast Pallet & Box, has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply.

"This employer has an extensive OSHA inspection history and has had ample opportunity to address the hazards identified in previous inspections, yet chooses to continue to neglect electrical/shock, burn and combustible dust hazards," said Joseph Roesler, OSHA's area director in Mobile. 

The repeat violations, carrying $63,910 in penalties, include the employer exposing workers to electrical/shock, burn and amputation hazards. Southeast Forest Products was last cited in 2009.

Roessler said Southeast Forest Products failed to implement a hearing monitoring plan, conduct audiometric testing and initiate a training program for workers exposed to noise above permissible exposure limits.  Repeat violations exist when an employe has been cited for the same or a similar violations at any facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. 

The serious violations, carrying $12,320 in penalties, include exposing workers to combustible dust hazards and failing to ensure industrial powered trucks were in safe operating condition.