Queen City, TX (News release) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Graphic Packaging International LLC - an Atlanta, Georgia-based paper product manufacturer - for exposing employees to hot steam, and failing to ensure the use of proper hazardous energy control methods. The company faces $211,400 in proposed fines.

OSHA launched an investigation of the Queen City, Texas, facility after hot steam burned an employee trying to repair a leak on a steam-line header. OSHA determined the header had been leaking for several months and found the company violated federal safety standards for personal protective equipment (PPE), lockout/tagout, and process safety management (PSM).

"Unexpected energy such as steam has the potential to cause severe injuries when proper procedures are absent," said OSHA Area Director Basil Singh, in Dallas, Texas. "Using safe energy control procedures could have prevented this injury."

OSHA offers compliance assistance resources on protective equipment, controlling hazardous energy, and safely managing hazardous chemicals.

Graphic Packaging International has 15 business days from receipt of the citation and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.