Tonawanda Coke Corp. faces $48,500 in fines for violations related to worker safety at its

River Road plant, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced today.

It's the latest action taken by a regulatory agency against the facility, which produces

foundry coke, a coal by-product. Late last month, the Town of Tonawanda plant was ordered by

the federal Environmental Protection Agency to correct deficient operating procedures and

explain two releases of coke oven gas in the past two years.

The 14 violations found by OSHA involve the plant's respiratory protection program, use of

personal protective equipment, industrial hygiene and coke oven operations. They include:

Failure to perform all required medical evaluations for workers exposed to coke oven

emissions;

Allowed food and beverages to be consumed in an area with visible accumulations of

coke oven emissions;

Failure to adequately train workers on respirator selection, use, storage and

maintenance.

"Ensuring the health and safety of workers in coke oven operations makes it essential that

effective and proper safeguards be in place and in use at all times in this type of work

environment," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo.

Tonawanda Coke has 15 business days to comply, meet with the OSHA area director or contest

the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.