Region 5 News Release: 10-517-CHI
April 28, 2010
Contact: Scott Allen
Phone: 312-353-6976
Email: allenscott@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA fines Lowe's Home Center $110,000 for continual recordkeeping violations at Cincinnati and Dayton stores

CINCINNATI. - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Lowe's Home Centers Inc. in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, with $110,000 in proposed penalties for continually failing to document and report employee injuries and illnesses.

As a result of an October 2009 inspection in Cincinnati, OSHA issued Lowe's four willful citations with a proposed penalty of $40,000. Based on a November 2009 inspection, OSHA issued the Dayton store seven willful citations with a proposed penalty of $70,000. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirement, or plain indifference to employee safety and health.

OSHA requires employers to record and maintain occupational injuries and illnesses on the OSHA 300 log.

"Accurate injury and illness records are vital to protect workers' health and safety," said OSHA Area Director Richard Gilgrist in Cincinnati. "Accurate records are an important tool that employers and workers can use to identify hazards in the workplace, and they also enable OSHA to better target its resources."

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audiotape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit http://www.dol.gov/compliance.