Editor’s Note: An explanation from the Department of Labor regarding what prompted the investigation has been added.
A Department of Labor investigation revealed that flooring and surfaces manufacturer Ecore International Inc. had committed over a dozen health and safety violations at its plant in Mexia, Texas.
The department told IEN that the investigation was triggered by a complaint that mentioned, “hazards associated with fire, electrical, egress and powered industrial vehicles.”
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Last January, OSHA inspectors discovered that Ecore forced workers to climb forklifts and stand on the machine’s elevated tines to access work areas and let untrained employees operate the forklifts.
Other violations included failing to provide a safe area for welding, exposing employees to slipping, tripping and falling hazards, not ensuring machines had the necessary safety guards and neglecting flammable dust buildup, increasing the risk of fires and explosions.
The investigation resulted in citations for 15 serious and one willful violations and nearly $300,000 in proposed penalties.
Additionally, a separate inspection at an Ecore site in Ozark, Alabama, conducted four months after the Mexia investigation, uncovered similar machine guard hazards as well as risks for amputation and electrocution.
Ecore serves customers in over 75 countries across multiple industries, including sports and fitness, education, retail and healthcare. The company’s offerings include recycled rubber for outdoor playground surfaces and shock pads and sheet vinyl for fitness rooms.
Ecore stresses the safety and environmental benefits of its products, but OSHA Area Director Monica Camacho stated that the company must extend this focus to the workers who make its products.
Ecore has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference or contest the findings.
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