Safety and health violations found at U.S. Mint plant in Philadelphia

A Labor Department inspection has turned up 47 safety and health violations at the U.S. Mint facility in Philadelphia. A draft report from the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the plant for several violations, including dangerous fire escape routes and unstable coin containers, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday. The Mint's Philadelphia facility employs 650 workers and, along with the agency's Denver plant, manufactures all U.S. coins. OSHA will officially release its report on the alleged safety and health violations next week, according to Kate Dugan, an agency spokeswoman. "We have not issued citations yet," Dugan said. "OSHA does not provide information on an open case." The Philadelphia facility has fixed nearly all the violations previously cited by OSHA, according to Mint spokesman Matt Kilbourne. "Some other problems will require research," he said. Mint officials told the Inquirer that the agency has reduced the number of accidents at its plants this year. "The Mint is committed to maintaining the health and safety of its workforce," Kilbourne said. "It is a top priority at all of our facilities." OSHA regularly inspects Mint facilities, and the Mint "appreciates" the opportunity to work with the oversight agency on improving workplace safety, Kilbourne said. "When the dust is settled, the Mint is a much safer place to be because of its collaboration with OSHA, and that's what we are interested in." OSHA conducted its inspection between January and June 2001. Kilbourne said the inspection was the most thorough one in some time. A 1995 inspection of the Mint's Philadelphia facility listed 19 "serious" safety violations. By law, OSHA cannot fine other federal agencies for safety and health violations, and no other punitive action has ever been taken against the Mint, Kilbourne said.