A Little Falls company has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and could face almost $300,000 in fines.

Burrows Paper Corporation, based in Little Falls, has been cited for repeat and serious safety violations, the Department of Labor said. The company faces $298,100 in proposed fines.

The inspections were conducted because the company’s injury and illness rates exceeded incident rates for 2009 and 2010. Burrows is a food-grade paper and packaging manufacturer that has five paper machines in four mills located in New York and Mississippi. The company employs about 700 workers.

According to the Department of Labor, during an inspection of the company’s Mohawk Valley Mill at 489 W. Main St., in Little Falls, OSHA inspectors found three serious safety violations for stairways that lacked railings, papermaking machines that lacked guarding to prevent employee contact with moving parts and an electrical hazard related to the use of electrical equipment not approved for the location. Inspectors also identified six repeat violations for safety hazards related to falls, lack of eyewash stations and additional machine guarding and electrical hazards.

The inspection of the East Mill at 730 E. Mill St. found two serious safety violations for exposure to combustible paper dust, electrical issues and a malfunctioning exit light. It identified four repeat safety violations for machines with insufficient guarding.