REC plans to work with state to resolve issues

by Cameron Probert<br
| April 1, 2010 9:00 PM

MOSES LAKE — REC Silicon announced it plans to work with the state after the Department of Labor and Industries issued 14 citations to the company.

The Washington state Department of Labor and Industries fined the company $57,000, after conducting inspections of Plant 1 between Sept. 28 and Nov. 12, 2009. The inspections included on-site evaluations, interviews with managers, employees and technical workers and reviewing documents and records.

Labor and Industries spokesman Hector Castro said the inspection was part of a series of routine inspections of companies considered highly hazardous. The department was following a directive from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

“We weren’t conducting the inspection because of a complaint. It was just by virtue of the type of company REC is,” he said.

The department labeled 10 of the violations as serious, meaning they could result in serious injury or death, Castro said. Four of the violation were classified as general.

The company didn’t have any willful or repeat violations, according to an REC statement.

“REC Silicon has worked closely with (Labor and Industries) during the audit and will continue to work with the department to ensure all violations are abated,” according to REC. “The company is committed to take the actions and steps required, first to assure the safety of our employees, and second to provide satisfactory and sustained resolution to process safety program weaknesses identified during the … site inspection.”

Castro said the company has cooperated with the department in its inspections and expects it will continue to be cooperative.

“The safety of all employees and the public are key concerns to REC Silicon,” according to the company’s statement. “The company will continue to make every possible effort to be proactive and address potential issues, whether discovered by internal auditing and performance measurements or as a result of inspections, as part of our process safety management program.”