Harbor Point Mineral Products Faces Penalties After Death of an Employee
By: Jennifer Lee
Updated: November 15, 2011
A Utica company faces multiple fines and violations after
the death of an employee. Harbor Point Mineral Products faces $155,200 in proposed penalties.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, has cited Harbor Point Minerals for 21 workplace safety violations.
On May 11th an employee of the company entered a silo without a proper harness. 24-year-old Craig Bernier died after being engulfed by cotton seed stored in the silo.
An inspection by OSHA's Syracuse office found employees were not properly trained on the hazards of entering a silo. According to OSHA documents, the company also did not have proper rescue equipment.
Harbor Point's Vice President, Kevin Crane, tells Eyewitness News- quote "We are in the process of reviewing the citations to determine our next steps... We continue to work through the OSHA process.. We will continue to go above and beyond to enhance our health and safety practices..." end quote.
Harbor Point has 15 business days to comply, meet with OSHA or contest the findings to the OSHA review commission. According to OSHA, last year alone, over twenty workers in the nation died in silo mishaps.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, has cited Harbor Point Minerals for 21 workplace safety violations.
On May 11th an employee of the company entered a silo without a proper harness. 24-year-old Craig Bernier died after being engulfed by cotton seed stored in the silo.
An inspection by OSHA's Syracuse office found employees were not properly trained on the hazards of entering a silo. According to OSHA documents, the company also did not have proper rescue equipment.
Harbor Point's Vice President, Kevin Crane, tells Eyewitness News- quote "We are in the process of reviewing the citations to determine our next steps... We continue to work through the OSHA process.. We will continue to go above and beyond to enhance our health and safety practices..." end quote.
Harbor Point has 15 business days to comply, meet with OSHA or contest the findings to the OSHA review commission. According to OSHA, last year alone, over twenty workers in the nation died in silo mishaps.
