Mississippi Firms Fined $638K for Unsafe Workplaces

Federal labor officials are recommending that three Mueller Industries subsidiaries in Mississippi pay $638,000 in fines for allegedly exposing employees to unsafe working conditions.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the companies in Fulton for 128 alleged violations.

The companies have 15 days to contests OSHA’s findings.

John Hansen, president of manufacturing operations for Mueller Industries, told The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal the company is reviewing the citations and will meet with OSHA to discuss them.

OSHA said it began investigating in July 2009 after a maintenance worker at Mueller Copper Tube Co. died and two others were injured when a flammable liquid leaked from an electric pump and ignited.