Officials from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently cited a Bedford Park manufacturer for health and safety violations which resulted in one worker’s chemical burn injuries. The workplace injuries occurred in December of last year and resulted in over $470,000 in fines against the manufacturer of health and beauty products.
“Employers have a responsibility to protect their workers from workplace hazards and dangerous chemicals,” said Gary Anderson, director of OSHA’s Calumet City Area Office. “It is imperative that employers make the commitment to safety and health to ensure that employees are not continually exposed to hazards such as these.”
The most recent round of inspections has resulted in fines that total $60,300. The manufacturer as cited for the following violations, among others:
- Failing to perform inspections of its electrical local program for machine energy sources
- Failure to inspect guard saws, sanders, forklifts and grinders
- Failure to repair welding cables
- Failure to calculate employee’s exposure to chromium, benzene and formaldehyde
Employees who are injured at the workplace are entitled to collect workers compensation benefits, but it is often possible for the worker to file a third party claim against an entity other than their employer. Possible third party entities include contractors for an employer and the manufacturer of a dangerous product which results in worker injuries.
Source: OSHA, “US Labor Department’s OSHA cites Raani Corp. for 14 safety and health violations at Bedford Park, Ill., plant,” Region 5 News Release: 12-1389-CHI
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