PITTSBURGH — Miller Compressing Co. is facing $70,000 in fines for allegedly failing to take measures that would have prevented electricity from reaching its shredder during maintenance.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited the Milwaukee-based metals recycler for two willful safety violations after it allegedly allowed employees to perform maintenance on a 7,000-horsepower shredder without locking out the power source.

The OSHA inspection was initiated after the agency received a complaint.

"Miller Compressing Co. has a responsibility to ensure that workers are properly protected from known workplace hazards—such as machinery becoming unintentionally energized during maintenance—that can result in amputations and other serious injuries," OSHA area director George Yoksas said.

The company has 15 business days to comply, contest the findings or request an informal conference with the area director.

The company couldn’t be reached for comment.

A March 2011 inspection of the recycler resulted in a citation.