Houston-Based Recycled Glass Supplier Cited for Safety Risks

Houston-Based Recycled Glass Supplier Cited for Safety Risks

Strategic Materials Inc. faces $370,995 in proposed penalties.

  • By Robert Yaniz Jr.
  • Sep 15, 2023

Houston's Strategic Materials Inc.—which supplies recycled glass to manufacturers—is once again under the scrutiny of OSHA due to repeated workplace safety violations.

In a release dated Sept. 13, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that an investigation into Strategic Materials identified 13 violations, including nine serious, one willful and three repeat offenses. Violations include a lack of lockout/tagout procedures, exposing employees to potential falls, failure to enclose sprocket wheels and chains and unguarded projecting shaft ends.

As a result of OSHA’s investigation, Strategic Materials faces $370,995 in proposed penalties. OSHA’s investigation followed a complaint on March 9, 2023. Notably, this latest investigation isn't the company’s first brush with OSHA. The agency previously carried out inspections in January, March and May of 2021.

“Strategic Materials Inc. continues to expose workers to some of general industry’s leading causes of workplace injuries and death,” OSHA Area Director Timothy Minor in Fort Worth, Texas, said in a statement. “Employers who willfully disregard their responsibility to keep workers safe will be held accountable.”

Strategic Materials has 15 business days following receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, arrange an informal discussion with OSHA’s area director or contest OSHA’s findings.

About the Author

Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.

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