A federal regulator is seeking penalties of USD124,000 from roofing fabricator American Sheet Metal Co of Houston for four safety violations involving forklifts and other equipment.

"The employer does not ensure that (propane) fuel containers are securely mounted on powered industrial trucks to prevent jarring loose, slipping or rotating," one citation reads.

Another says, "The employer does not provide proper protective equipment while (workers are) operating forklifts."

The area director for the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was critical. "American Sheet Metal was given adequate time to correct the hazardous conditions found at its facility (24 July and 26 November to December) but has done nothing to abate the violations and continues to expose workers to hazards," says David Doucet with the OSHA area office in Conroe, Texas. "The employer is responsible for providing a safe workplace and protecting its employees. OSHA's primary concern is ensuring that the company lives up to its responsibility. Anything less is unacceptable."

Other OSHA citations for operations in the firm's fabrication area involved lack of shear hold downs and the absence of machinery operation guards.

American Sheet Metal does business as ARCI Ltd and is known as America Roofing. The business employs about 15 workers and specialises in the fabrication of sheet metal for use in the roofing industry.

OSHA is an agency of the US Department of Labor.