LAWRENCE — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. for violating workplace safety standards following an inspection at the shoe manufacturer's Lawrence distribution center in August.

The company faces a total of $42,225 in proposed fines.

But the company has vowed to challenge the fines, and the facts of the case, and has an informal hearing with OSHA officials Monday to review the charges.

"New Balance vigorously promotes the health and safety of our associates," said Donald Chabot, Environmental Health and Safety Manager at New Balance.

"We are vigilant in our efforts to ensure a safe work environment for our associates using OSHA standards as the minimum benchmark."

In late August, OSHA inspectors say they found unqualified employees working on electrical panels that had not first been de-energized to prevent electric shock hazards, according to a press release issued by OSHA yesterday. In addition, the workers had not been trained in safe electrical work practices, including the use of personal protective equipment, and were not wearing protective gloves, OSHA said.

The inspection also identified ungrounded equipment, unmarked electrical disconnects, extension cords used in place of fixed wiring and wooden pallets that posed a fire hazard.

"Electricity moves at the speed of light and can kill or disable a worker literally in a flash, which is why proper training, procedures and personal protective equipment are all essential to safeguarding workers against this hazard," said Paul Mangiafico, OSHA's area director for Middlesex and Essex counties. "While it is fortunate that no electrocution occurred in this case, worker safety must not ever be left to chance."

As a result of its inspection, OSHA has issued the company citations with $42,225 in fines.

New Balance has 15 business days from receipt of the citations, issued last week, to respond. The company can either comply with the order, participate in an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

The company has decided to meet with OSHA Monday.

"Safe electrical work practices are embedded in all our workplace training programs," Chabot said. "We have prepared documentation that we will present at an informal conference ... to validate our position that several of the alleged violations or proposed penalties are unsupported."

ÔÇæÔÇæÔÇæ

Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.