VICKSBURG, Miss. (Dec. 2, 2002) — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has reduced the size and severity of its citations against Rouse Polymerics International Inc. after a meeting with the company.
OSHA changed the two "willful" violations in its original citations to "serious," and cut the total amount of the fine to $187,680 from $210,600.
"Getting the ´willful´ out of this was very important to us as we try to rebuild our business," said Rouse Polymerics CEO Michael Rouse. The OSHA citations arose from a May 16, 2002, explosion and fire at Rouse Polymerics' Vicksburg plant that killed five workers and injured seven others.
The company´s plans are on track to reopen early in 2003 with a facility to make high-end polymers, Mr. Rouse said.