Illinois foundry facing $152,500 in OSHA penalties

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $152,500 in fines against Waukegan Steel Sales Inc. in Waukegan, Ill., for alleged multiple willful, serious and repeat violations of federal workplace safety standards.

OSHA opened an inspection at the steel support manufacturing company in February 2008 and issued citations alleging two willful, 12 serious and two repeat violations. The willful violations carry proposed penalties of $112,000 and address hazards associated with energy control procedures not being utilized and failure to guard the press brakes point of operation.

Alleged serious violations, with $28,500 in proposed penalties, address hazards associated with stair access to work areas, use and storage of liquefied petroleum tanks, welding curtains and machine guarding.

Repeat violations, with $12,000 in proposed penalties, alleged training deficiencies related to lockout/tagout issues and failing to remove unsafe forklifts from service. Waukegan Steel Sales was previously cited for similar violations that became final orders in February 2006 and for which the company had provided documentation that corrections had been completed.

"Steel fabrication work should not compromise the safety and health of employees, and when hazards are identified, they must be corrected," said Diane Turek, area director of the OSHA district office in Des Plaines, Ill. "Employers must remain dedicated to keeping the workplace safe and healthful, or face close scrutiny by this agency."