WD Flooring LLC (Laona, Wis.) will challenge the results of an Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection that penalized the company nearly $270,000 for alleged safety violations, Fox 11 reported.
The company was notified of the violations Feb. 28 and has 15 working days to contest them, according to OSHA documents. OSHA’s investigation was conducted last fall and resulted in 28 “serious” violations, six “other-than-serious” violations and four repeat violations against WD Flooring.
WD Flooring President Peter Connor issued a strong statement against OSHA’s findings, calling them “part of a wider effort to undermine and attack the wood products industry in Wisconsin.”
“WD Flooring has always prioritized the safety and well-being of our employees, implementing rigorous safety measures to ensure a secure workplace environment,” Connor said in a statement to Fox 11. “This commitment remains steadfast despite OSHA's attempts to portray us as anything but safety-conscious. American manufacturing is the most highly regulated in the world, and these fantastical claims, fines, and opinions will be challenged. Regrettably, our company, which has garnered national recognition and accolades for its achievements, is being used as a symbolic martyr in what appears to be a political game of one-upmanship. We denounce OSHA's despicable display of politics and reaffirm our dedication to maintaining the highest safety standards at our facility. These ridiculous headlines are made to shame, disparage, and harm the reputation of this company and, at large, our industry.”
