OSHA Fines Ill. Firm $56,000

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations and proposed penalties of $56,000 to PIPCO Companies LTD following an investigation into alleged workplace health and safety violations at a worksite in Washburn, Ill.

Barry Salerno, OSHA’s acting area director in Peoria, said that PIPCO Companies LTD was installing a sanitary sewer system when OSHA conducted an inspection in response to a complaint that employees were working in an excavation and were not protected from cave-in hazards.

OSHA issued one citation alleging a willful violation of safety standards for not providing protection from a possible cave-in. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations.

PIPCO Companies, LTD has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to request an informal conference with the OSHA area director, or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.