A weapons producer in Texas has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 24 violations, one willful and 23 serious, and putting their employees at risk of injury.

Maverick Arms is in Eagle Pass, Texas and they produce firearms, specifically shotguns. You can imagine the factory is a little loud. They’ve been given a willful citation for failing to have controls in place to reduce excessive noise levels. This could put employees in danger of serious hearing loss, even permanent loss. Other serious citations were for things that exposed employees to injuries from operating or being struck by machinery, falls and electrical shocks.

Inspectors visited the site as part of the Regional Emphasis Program for Fabricated Metal Products, and the inspection was planned. The program is intended to reduce employee exposure to well-known hazards on this type of job. There are many electrical hazards, unguarded machinery that needs to be properly locked out, there are chemicals they’re working with like lead and silica, as well as typically working in small worksites that utilize welding equipment and other flammable materials. There is a lot of noise which can permanently injure workers if they are not protected against it.

The proposed penalties total $197,000.