A North Bergen recycling plant that has been fined more than $700,000 over the last four years for health and safety violations faced another $70,070 penalty Monday stemming from an accident in which an employee lost six fingers.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Lieze Associates, doing business as Eagle Recycling of New Jersey, with one repeat and three serious safety violations in assessing the fine. This latest OSHA investigation was started in response to a referral by the North Bergen Police Department after the worker lost his fingers in December at the company’s recycling transfer station.

OSHA inspectors cited the company for failing to disable lock out the energy source of a conveyor-belt system while the worker, an unnamed Union City resident, was clearing a cardboard jam, which led to the amputation, according to a statement from the agency.

Other violations included failing to ensure a ladder placed with the two top rails was supported and placed with secure footing, and for exposing workers to 8-foot-high fall hazards while working on unguarded platforms. OSHA cited Eagle Recycling for similar violations in 2009 and 2010, where the company ended up paying $15,150 and $32,060 fines, respectively, said Brian Flynn, assistant area director at OSHA’s Parsippany office.

Monday’s announced violations were the result of the accident, but the items that drew the biggest penalty were the repeated violations for fall protection, Flynn said.

David DeClement,CQ Eagle Recycling’s lawyer, said he’s already spoken with OSHA in an attempt to settle the latest charges.

“Of course, we will engage in discussions with OSHA,” DeClement said. “It’s always unfortunate when someone is hurt. It doesn’t make any difference what the cause is. And his injuries were fairly grievous. We have great sympathy for him and his family, and hope that he recovers.”

If OSHA and Eagle Recycling don’t reach a settlement, the company can contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Eagle Recycling has a history of alleged safety violations. In April 2011 Eagle Recycling executives pleaded guilty to charges that they conspired to violate the Clean Water Act by dumping construction and demolition debris in wetlands in New York State. The company agreed to pay a $500,000 fine.

In October the township shut down Eagle Recycling and fined it $100,000, after there was a fire at the recycling facility. The company, on Dell Avenue, was directed to repair a sprinkler system, and its certificate of occupancy was reissued Oct. 24 when that work was completed, township spokesman Philip Swibinski said. OSHA fined Eagle Recycling $4,620 for two violations stemming from the fire in October, Flynn said.

Eagle Recycling has appealed the $100,000 North Bergen fine to the Hudson County Construction Board of Appeals, where it is pending. In total, North Bergen has fined the company four times for roughly $164,000.

“North Bergen has been extremely vigilant in sanctioning and fining Eagle Recycling for safety violations and holding them accountable for their operations,” Swibinski said. “We feel we’ve done all we can. The fines have actually progressively increased.”

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