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SAFETY / OSHA - 3/24/08

OSHA cites Chicago metal forger A. Finkl & Sons for safety violations found during follow-up inspection

OSHA has proposed $140,000 in fines against Chicago metal forger A. Finkl & Sons for two alleged willful violations of federal workplace safety standards found during a recent follow-up to a 2006 inspection.

OSHA opened its most current inspection, in August 2007, to determine whether the company had, as agreed, corrected safety hazards found in 2006 and, in addition, to determine if other hazards existed. The follow-up inspection found that the company still had not provided adequate guardrails over tanks and pits and had failed to keep industrial trucks in clean and safe operating condition. The two willful citations issued as a result of these hazards carry a total of $140,000 in penalties.

"It's disappointing when we find on re-inspection that problems which may lead to death or serious injury still exist," said Diane Turek, OSHA's area director in Des Plaines, Ill. "There is no excuse for this kind of attitude toward the safety of employees."

OSHA has inspected the Finkl forging plant 19 times since 1972 with 12 of those inspections resulting in citations for safety violations. During that time, the company had two fatalities. Additionally, an employee was injured in 2003 when he jumped from the cab of a powered industrial truck that, due to the ignition of hydraulic oil accumulations, had caught fire while transporting a heated metal ingot.

A. Finkl & Sons has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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