Feds Fine New Hampshire Foundry$250K

A metal foundry in Franklin, New Hampshire has been fined more than $250,000 by the federal government after tests showed lead particle levels more than three times the legal limit inside the building.

The Occupation Safety and Health Administration says the Franklin Non-Ferrous Foundry has two weeks to pay unless it contests the citations to the Labor Department.

The citations say in March, a factory foreman was found to have high levels of lead in his blood and in May, managers failed to conduct mandated follow-up testing on the employee.

Potential violations include unmarked confined spaces under furnaces, electrical malfunctions and poor training. OSHA also found managers did not properly fit workers with masks to protect them from lead dust.

Calls from the Concord Monitor to the factory were not returned Friday.