OSHA Fines Charcoal Maker $339K for Safety HazardsOSHA Fines Charcoal Maker $339K for Safety Hazards

The maker of Royal Oak brand charcoal, Royal Oak Enterprises, was issued citations and a fine of $339,702 by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after safety and health hazards were uncovered at two Missouri facilities operated by the company, an agency press release issued Wednesday said. 

Royal Oak’s charcoal plant in Branson, MO was cited for 19 serious violations, including exposing workers to confined space entry, electrical, housekeeping, hearing, and forklift hazards; deficiencies in lockout/tagout; inadequate machine guarding; and failure to mount a fire extinguisher. 

The firm’s facility in Summersville, MO received 10 serious violations for electrical and forklift hazards, accumulation of combustible material, and exposing employees to silica dust.

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“Every employer is required to provide a workplace free of hazards,” Principal Deputy Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt said in a statement. “Employers who implement a safety and health program that includes identifying and fixing hazards can minimize the risk of worker injuries and illnesses.”

The company has 15 business days after receiving the citations to comply, challenge the agency’s findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, or request an informal conference with an OSHA area director. 

Crews from several fire departments responded to the Royal Oak Charcoal plant in Branson in September 2019 after a worker became trapped in an auger. An official with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) told the television news station that an investigation has been opened into the incident. 

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