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STRONG

Mill owners face fines for safety violations

BY VALERIE TUCKER, Correspondent

STRONG -- Geneva Wood Fuels faces up to $27,000 in work-related safety fines, according to an announcement Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The fines, however, could be reduced or eliminated depending on what evidence the mill owners produce during a meeting Tuesday between the company and OSHA, according to William Coffin, the agency's Maine director.

In August 2009, a pellet dryer explosion destroyed much of the plant and an employee on the site had minor injuries.

After the explosion, OSHA investigated the mill's workplace safety standards. OSHA's inspection showed unapproved lifting devices, missing safety signs, and missing guardrails among the violations. Dust is one of the major hazards in any setting.

"Combustible dust is a real and potentially deadly presence in many types of workplaces," Coffin said in his statement.

The violations, they stated, could total $27,000 in penalties for the mill owners.

"The announcement correctly states these are proposed penalties," Geneva owner Jonathan Kahn said by phone Tuesday. "We've had a scheduled meeting with him (Coffin) for about a week now. We're going in to better understand what they've come up with and provide information. We do not agree with some of the findings they have, and we're going to discuss exactly that."

Safety, Kahn said, was one of his company's main concerns. He said he and his partner Benjamin Rose began the rebuilding process in the fall.

The meeting next week will provide both sides with an opportunity to discuss the case, Coffin said. "We do this all the time, and this isn't because of the explosion," he said.