OSHA is issuing citations for 24 alleged violations against H P Pelzer Automotive Systems Inc. in Thomson, Ga. The agency is proposing $135,000 in penalties against the company, according to an OSHA news statement.

A health inspection of the plant revealed seven serious violations resulting in penalties of $32,500. The health violations include the company allowing combustible dust to accumulate, not protecting employees from noise hazards and exposing employees to an airborne concentration of formaldehyde.

The company is also being cited with a repeat health violation and a $25,000 penalty for using high pressure compressed air to clean equipment resulting in clouds of resin dust, and a second repeat violation with a $25,000 penalty for exposing employees to high concentrations of airborne particulates. This location had been cited for similar violations after inspections conducted in 2006.

OSHA is issuing an additional 15 citations with proposed penalties of $52,500 after a subsequent safety inspection found serious violations including lack of guardrails, improper lockout/tagout procedures to prevent accidental start-up of machinery, electrical hazards and employees using defective equipment.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to contest them and the proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The site was inspected by staff from OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office, 2183 Northlake Parkway, Building 7, Suite 110, Tucker, Ga.; telephone 770-493-6644