OSHA Cites Ill. Firm for Reported Safety Violations

Chem-Cast Ltd., a manufacturer of sand cores in Danville, Illinois, has been fined $119,000 by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for alleged violations of workplace safety standards following an inspection at the facility in July 2004.

OSHA issued willful citations to Chem-Cast for failing to lockout machinery during cleaning operations and tooling changes, and for failing to guard machinery to prevent workers from being injured by moving parts. Two citations categorized as serious alleged that the company did not provide training in the use of energy control devices and failed to conduct annual or more frequent inspections of the energy control procedure.

Machine guarding deficiencies and failing to lockout machinery during maintenance or other servicing activities are reportedly among the leading causes of amputations and can result in fatal accidents.

The company has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to appeal before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.