WASHINGTON (AP) — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration most recently inspected the Texas fertilizer plant that exploded Wednesday night in 1985.
Records reviewed by The Associated Press show that OSHA issued the West Chemical & Fertilizer Co., as the plant was called at the time, a $30 fine for a serious violation for storage of anhydrous ammonia.
OSHA cited the plant for four other serious violations of respiratory protection standards but did not issue fines. The maximum fine for a serious violation was $1,000.
It is not unusual for companies to negotiate lower fines.
The explosion near Waco, Texas, killed as many as 15 and injured more than 160 others.
OSHA has jurisdiction over more than 7 million workplaces. It's not uncommon for some companies to go years without inspection.
