SUPERIOR, WI (AP)-- A Wisconsin shipyard faces nearly $1.4 million in penalties after federal health inspectors said it exposed workers to lead.
The fine against Fraser Shipyards, Inc., in Superior was announced Monday by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Officials say that tests from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that 14 workers had lead levels up to 20 times the exposure limit. The agency also found workers exposed to other heavy metals during the retrofitting of a ship's engine room.
OSHA began inspecting the shipyard earlier this year after receiving complaints of unsafe working conditions. The agency found that Fraser Shipyards' management knew about the presence of lead and asbestos, but ignored regulations and worker concerns.
