Michigan Fines Lansing Plant for Safety Violations

Michigan has fined Lansing-based Bharat Forge America Inc. $137,750 for what the state says are 42 health and safety violations.

The Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth said the industrial parts plant had failed to adequately protect employees.

Violations include no guards or inadequate guards on equipment and no air monitoring or forced-air ventilation when welding in a confined space.

The company has 15 working days to appeal.

Human resources manager Sally Menne said the company disputes the allegations and is appealing. She called the plant “a safe place to work.”

The plant is part of Pune, India-based Bharat Forge Ltd., which bought the facility in 2005 from Federal Forge as it exited bankruptcy.