Upstate New York Plant Hit With $233K in OSHA Fines

Federal workplace safety officials have hit a hair care manufacturer with fines of $233,000 for hazards at its upstate New York plant.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says inspectors found 44 serious violations at the Zotos International plant in Geneva.

They included unguarded moving machine parts, electrical hazards, a blocked exit door, unqualified employees working on live electrical parts, failing to develop safety plans and inadequate training of employees.

The agency says workers were overexposed to certain chemicals and there were inadequate preparations to prevent the release of a flammable liquid used in the production process.

The company has 15 days to fix the problems or contest the findings.

A Zotos spokesman says many problems were fixed immediately and the company is working with OSHA to resolve the others.