Cappaert could face $118,300 for violations|[07/25/07]

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Safety violations at a Vicksburg plant could result in penalties totaling $123,400 for the company and for a subcontractor, federal inspectors said Tuesday.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration notified Cappaert Manufactured Housing on U.S. 61 South and the subcontractor, C&D Builders, of potential fines for 47 violations recorded during an inspection of the facility in January.

Clyde Payne, director for OSHA’s Mississippi office in Jackson, said the facility was targeted for inspection based on a high rate of worker injury and illness.

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Cappaert Manufactured Housing Inc. employs about 120 people and is owned by Mike Cappaert, also a member of the Warren County Port Commission.

He did not return phone calls, and Tom Chady, chief financial officer, said the company is reviewing the OSHA documents and has no comment.

Violations at the Cappaert Manufactured Housing plant included exposed electrical wires, unprotected fuel containers, ladders and scaffolding that exposed workers to falls and damaged equipment that OSHA says should have been replaced.

Some of the violations were corrected during the January inspection, Payne said.

Broken out, the $118,300 in fines for 43 violations attributed to Cappaert Manufactured Housing is the third-highest OSHA has levied this year.

&#8220Because of the volume and the severity of the penalty, it had to be reviewed by our regional and national office and our attorneys,” Payne said.

The remainder, a fine of $5,100, was proposed for four violations attributed to C&D Builders Inc., which installs roofing and siding at the facility and employees 12 people, according to the OSHA news release.

William David Clark, registered with the Mississippi Secretary of State as director of C&D Builders, could not be reached.

Payne said an informal meeting has already been set up between OSHA and C&D Builders, whose office address is listed as 1 Oak Hill Drive.

Following receipt of notification, companies have 15 days to contest citations before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, an independent adjudication body.

Penalties are often reduced if companies show willingness to address safety concerns, Payne said.

&#8220We work out most of our cases in informal settlements,” Payne said. &#8220Our office has a contest rate of 2.5 percent.”