OSHA Proposes $164,000 in Fines for Colorado Plant

Vestas Towers America Inc. says it has enhanced safety measures since an employee at its wind turbine manufacturing plant in Pueblo suffered a broken wrist and partial amputation of two fingers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected after the worker was injured Nov. 19, when sections of wind towers being welded together slid.

OSHA cited Vestas with a “willful” violation and alleged that support equipment to prevent the sliding had been removed. OSHA also alleged 23 serious violations, including improper use of ladders. It proposed $164,000 in fines.

Vestas said Wednesday it has addressed many of OSHA’s concerns.

The accident happened a month after an employee of Transportation Technology Services was fatally crushed between a forklift and a rail car while loading parts of wind towers for shipment.