Atmore-based metal fabrication company, Escofab Inc., may face nearly $68,000 in penalties after being cited for 11 safety and health violations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The violations, including one willful breach, stem from an inspection, which began in October of 2011 under the agency’s Site-Specific

Targeting Program aimed at directing enforcement resources to workplaces with higher-than-average rates of injuries and illnesses.

According to a Department of Labor release, the willful safety violation, which itself carries a penalty of $35,000, is for failing to correct problems with cranes located at the Escofab facility. The company hired a private consultant to inspect the cranes in 2008 and 2011, but failed to correct the problems, including electrical hazards, as well as failing to replace and repair missing and broken parts.

OSHA found nine “serious safety and health violations” at the Escofab plant, as well as one “other-than-serious” violation. The nine violation carry penalties of $32,970, and include failing to conduct a load tests, failing to protect from electrical hazards and hazards associated with rotating machinery parts and fan blades, not properly adjusting a table grinder posing an amputation hazard, and not marking containers of hazardous chemicals or effectively training employees regarding potential chemical hazards. The other-than-serious violation stemmed from failing to implement a respiratory protection program necessary for those employees who voluntarily choose to wear respirators while working and carries no monetary penalty.

“Failing to correct known hazards places workers at risk, and OSHA will not allow management to let workers’ safety and health be a low priority,” said Joe Roesler, director of OSHA’s Mobile Area Office.

The company will be given 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Escofab Inc. owner and CEO Ellis Beachy said his company is working to comply with the issues at hand.

“We have been working with the safety company since October,” he said. “And we are continuing to address all of the issues in order to reach a resolution.”