Pennsylvania Chimney Company Cited for Repeated Safety Violations

Federal regulators say a northeast Pennsylvania chimney supply company continued to violate safety regulations after accidents in which some employees lost fingers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Monday it is fining Olympia Chimney Supply Inc. of Scranton $49,000 for 14 safety violations discovered during inspections stemming from a complaint this summer.

The agency says Olympia employees have suffered more than 20 injuries over the last few years, including lacerations, crushed and pinched fingers, multiple fingertip amputations and the amputation of several fingers.

It says Olympia failed to safeguard machines and had flaws in a system designed to prevent machines from starting up inadvertently during maintenance.

Olympia manufactures materials used for chimney construction and restoration. The company did not immediately return a telephone message.