MiddletownJournal.com

FAIRFIELD — More than $247,000 in fines may be levied against Takumi Stamping Inc. in Fairfield for 19 alleged serious and repeat health and safety violations of federal workplace standards.

During an April inspection, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found 10 serious safety violations, seven of which are repeat violations, with $162,500 in penalties; and nine serious health violations, of which two are repeat violations with $85,000 in penalties.

The federal agency is charging that Takumi failed to ensure proper lockout/tagout procedures were in place and that employees were neither trained nor aware of the hazards and sources of energy to the machinery being used.

Additionally, the company is alleged to have failed to ensure only trained and authorized employees operate powered industrial trucks and did not offer proper protections for extreme noise levels.

"Failing to prevent accidental start-up of machinery through lockout/tagout is a known hazard that can result in amputation or even death," said Richard Gilgrist, director of OSHA's Cincinnati area office.

Takumi officials did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment prior to press time.

The Fairfield-based metal stamping and welding company — which provides auto parts exclusively for Toyota — is in the process of a adding a 120,000-square-foot facility to its existing operations along Seward Road. The company is receiving a $38,000-a-year tax abatement over the next 10 years from the city as a result of the expansion and addition of 25 full-time positions. They currently employ about 300 people locally.

According to OSHA, Takumi has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with the agency's area director or contest the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

This is not the first time the company has been cited by OSHA for safety and health violations. In 2004, the agency inspected Takumi and issued the company 30 citations.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.