Wausau-Area Manufacturer Hit With $161K In OSHA Fines

A Wausau-area company has been hit with $161,000 in proposed penalties by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Imperial Industries in Rothschild has been cited with 12 serious safety violations and two willful violations after welders were allegedly exposed to hazardous fumes.

Scott Allen of the U.S. Department of Labor said those fumes contained a chemical called hexavalent chromium “that can cause lung cancer and respiratory, eye and skin damage.”

“They need to protect their workers by all costs. It’s a standard that’s been around for a very long time, and there’s simply no excuse for it,” said Allen.

Workers were also allegedly endangered by amputation because machines lacked safety mechanisms. Imperial Industries has 15 days to respond.

Editor’s Note: A call to the company was not returned in time for this story.