MIDDLETOWN, Ohio ¿ AK Steel has been issued eight citations for failing to record injuries at its Middletown plant by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The company faces proposed penalties of $53,000, according to a news release from the department on Tuesday.

"AK Steel has implemented policies where a portion of its managers' bonus money often involves taking disciplinary action against workers for reporting injuries," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels in the release.

"If accurate records are not compiled because workers believe they will be fired or disciplined for reporting an injury, or supervisors fear they will lose their bonuses if workers report injuries, real safety is not being achieved."

OSHA issued AK Steel five willful citations for failing to properly record occupational injuries on the OSHA 300 Log for more than three years, from January 2007 through the inspection in April 2010. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or indifference to employee safety and health.

AK Steel also has been issued three other-than-serious citations for failing to record cases of occupational noise-induced hearing loss.

In a news release in response to these citations, James Wainscott, chairman, president and CEO of AK Steel, said, "Safety is AK Steel's highest priority, and our record accurately reflects our unwavering commitment to workplace safety. To the extent OSHA alleges errors in even a very small percentage of our records, we absolutely disagree and we will vigorously defend our position."

The company listed these issues in its response:

n During the on-site investigation, AK Steel provided nearly four years' worth of safety and health records.

n The review period represented more than 19 million hours worked by employees, during which time the plant's OSHA recordable injury rate was, on average, about 8 times better than the steel industry average.

n OSHA alleges that 13 Middletown Works employees experienced work-related hearing losses. However, nine of those work in locations where the noise level is below the threshold for which OSHA requires an annual hearing test. An independent audiologist determined that the hearing loss by all 13 employees was unrelated to workplace exposure.

n OSHA alleges that AK Steel failed to properly record several work-related injuries as ones involving restricted work. But in each case the injured employees were examined by a physician and determined to be capable of doing their jobs. OSHA has offered no evidence to contradict the physician's finding.

AK Steel, which produces flat-rolled and tubular steel products, operates facilities in Butler; Mansfield and Zanesville, Ohio; Ashland, Ky.; and Rockport, Ind.