Chicago-area Business Cited for Safety Violations by OSHA

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Cook County personal injury lawyer

OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is responsible for keeping workers safe at their jobs.  They regulate businesses by setting safety guidelines that should be followed.  They are also responsible for enforcing penalties for lapses in safety.

Recently in Illinois, the Arlington Metals Corp was reviewed by OSHA investigators for possible violations.  The administration was alerted to the breaches in health standards by the United Steel Workers Union.  They issued a complaint to OSHA that the metal strip and coiling plant was hazardous to the health of the employees.

OSHA investigators investigated the company on multiple occasions looking for safety violations.  Seventeen violations were found to be serious, which means that the violations can cause serious or even death.  A serious violation is also considered one that the employer should have been aware of and addressed to ensure workplace safety.  For example, the Arlington Metals Corp had not trained their staff in fire protection, written a respiratory protection program, and there were no guardrails on dangerous machining equipment.  The company was also cited for some other-than serious violations.  These types are safety issues which put employees at risk for injury but not death or severe harm.

The proposed penalties to Arlington Metals Corp for these indiscretions total nearly 120,000 dollars.  The   company was given 15 days after the receipt of the findings and penalties to either comply, seek a conference with the OSHA area director or contest the citations.

Regardless of the outcome, the staff of over 100 workers at the Arlington Metal Corp is lucky that OSHA caught these issues before they caused an accident or a death.  Other workers might not escape the dangers apparent at their jobs.  If you have suffered an accident on the job, then it is important to hold a party responsible for your lost wages and hospital bills.  Contact an experienced personal injury attorney in Orland Park today to review your case.