CARTHAGE, N.Y. -- Carthage Specialty Paperboard Inc. will pay $175,000 in penalties to settle charges of serious safety and health violations at its plant in Jefferson County.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Thursday the company will pay the penalties as part of a settlement agreement to eliminate the safety and health hazards at the plant.

OSHA cited the Carthage-based paper milling company for 62 safety and health violations in June 2017 and proposed $357,445 in penalties. OSHA said it began an investigation of the Black River mill after receiving a complaint about conditions at the plant.

The settlement agreement requires the company to enhance efforts to prevent hazards associated with machine guarding; lack of fall protection; hazardous energy control; confined space entry; emergency response; and electrical and structural safety issues.

The company will also train employees to recognize hazards; make safety and health evaluations a part of management performance appraisals; hire two full-time safety and health staff; perform weekly safety audits; submit periodic abatement progress reports to OSHA; and consent to monitoring inspections for two years.

Judge Dennis L. Phillips of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission signed an order approving the settlement Jan. 3. It became a final order of the commission on Feb. 8.

"This settlement confirms that the company acknowledges the necessity of improving safety and health practices, as well as fostering a culture that supports safety among employees," OSHA Regional Administrator Robert Kulick said in a statement.

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