Safety Investigators Propose $2.78 Million In Cintas Fines

MASON, Ohio (AP) -- Federal safety investigators have proposed fining uniform-supplier Cintas Corp. $2.78 million over a worker's death in Tulsa. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Friday, August 17th 2007, 7:34 am

By: News On 6

MASON, Ohio (AP) -- Federal safety investigators have proposed fining uniform-supplier Cintas Corp. $2.78 million over a worker's death in Tulsa. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Thursday that management at a Cintas laundry in Tulsa disregarded health and safety rules that could have avoided the death.

Eleazar Torres-Gomez, 46, was killed in March when he fell into an operating industrial dryer while clearing a jam of wet laundry on a conveyor that carries laundry from the washer into the dryer.

"We remain heartbroken over the loss of a friend and a partner in this accident, however, we respectfully disagree with the inspectors' opinions," said Wade Gates, a spokesman for Cintas, based in this city near Cincinnati. "We will have our chance to present our insights and our evidence to the agency and hope that we can work toward an agreement."

The company has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to contest them.

Citations include alleged violations of OSHA standards for the failures to shut down and to lock out power to the equipment before clearing jams, and to adequately train four employees responsible to clear jams.

Regulators in Washington state cited Cintas for safety violations after a Yakima worker's arm was reportedly shattered in a washing machine. Those citations were issued Aug. 7, and carry $13,650 in penalties.

Cintas is the largest uniform supplier in North America, with more than 400 facilities employing more than 34,000 people.

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3/23/2007 Cintas Blames Death On Employee's Failure To Follow Training

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