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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219- 8151.
Midwest Metallics, L.P., a scrap metal processor, has
agreed to pay $1,000,000, in penalties proposed by the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) and make significant improvements at its four
operating facilities in the Chicago area. The agreement follows an inspection
by OSHA in response to the Dec. 2, 1994, death of a company employee.
"The health and safety of America's workers is one of our
highest national priorities," said Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich, "not
only at Midwest Metallics but at all six million workplaces in this country."
"Proposed House and Senate budget resolutions to cut OSHA's funding would
totally devastate our efforts to fulfill OSHA's Congressionally mandated
mission of assuring safe and healthful working conditions, "said Assistant
Secretary Joseph A. Dear.
Midwest Metallics was recently purchased and many of the
hazards identified during this investigation existed prior to the new
ownership.
Midwest Metallics, the largest auto scrap recycler in the
Midwest, has more than 200 employees who are represented by the United
Steelworkers of America and the Teamsters. Its four facilities are located in
Joliet, McCook, Argo and Stoney Island.
The OSHA area office in Calumet City conducted the
inspection following a Dec. 2, 1994, fatal accident involving a forklift truck
at its Joliet facility.
On Dec. 7, 1994, OSHA began a followup inspection to
citations issued previously at the McCook facility for failure to conduct
initial atmospheric lead monitoring. The investigation revealed that employees
were exposed to lead at levels as high as 24 times the permissible exposure
limit (PEL), 10 times the PEL for cadmium and above the action level for
arsenic. Virtually no protection was available to the employees.
Other major hazards cited related to poorly maintained
industrial trucks.
In addition to correcting the cited hazards and paying the
$1,000,000 penalty, Midwest Metallics has agreed to:
- -- abate all items of the citation;
- -- conduct comprehensive safety and health audits at all four
locations to identify and eliminate any and all hazards;
- -- develop an action plan for each facility to respond to the
findings of the audits;
- -- develop and implement a comprehensive, ongoing safety and health
training program covering all facilities.
OSHA is authorized by the Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970 to issue standards and rules requiring employers to provide their
employees with safe and healthful workplaces and jobsites, and to ensure
through workplace inspections that those standards are followed.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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