OSHA proposes fines on Illinois manufacturer

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $418,200 in fines for Midwest Racking Mfg. Inc., Madison, Ill., for failing to protect workers from numerous workplace hazards identified in a recent OSHA inspection and eight previous inspections.

According to OSHA, the company has consistently failed to correct grave and potentially disastrous hazards, including the lack of personal protective equipment, machine guarding, fire prevention measures, safety training, fall protection, and lockout/tagout procedures that render machinery inoperable during maintenance and repair.

The current fine and citations come from an April 2005 inspection following a complaint. The inspection led to 33 alleged violations—five serious, 18 willful, and 10 ranging from electrical hazards and smoking permitted within 20 ft. of a spray painting operation to a lack of eye and foot protection and improper use or lack of the use of respirators.

Midwest Racking Mfg. Inc. manufactures metal storage rack systems.