A federal regulator is issuing seven serious and two repeat safety citations and proposing penalties of USD72,000 against the Miami factory of Flexible Foam Products Inc.

Allegedly, the producer of polyurethane foam and foam products operated unapproved propane-powered forklifts in areas with a potential for a dust explosion or fire.

In addition, the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cites Flexible Foam for using forklifts with non-working lights.

Other citations involve failing to keep an area clean and free of dangerous accumulations of explosive and combustible foam dust and failing to install machine guards on cutting machines to protect workers from amputation hazards. Those repeat violations were uncovered during an inspection in May that followed a November 2009 inspection.

OSHA allows a company 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Flexible Foam has indicated an interest in scheduling an informal conference, according to the OSHA area office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The agency issued the citations 0n 27 September.

"Employers need to be aware that OSHA will be conducting follow-up inspections to ensure that past violations are being corrected," says Darlene Fossum, area office director. "OSHA will not hesitate to take additional actions against employers who have demonstrated recalcitrance or indifference to following the law."

Flexible Foam operates in 19 locations in 13 states and has about 700 employees. Flexible Foam and privately owned parent firm Ohio Decorated Products Inc are based in Spencerville, Ohio.