Region 5 News Release: 10-920-CHI
July 12, 2010
Contact: Scott Allen
Phone: 312-353-6976
E-mail: allen.scott@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA proposes more than $69,000 in penalties against Roll-Kraft for exposing workers to hazards

MENTOR, Ohio - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Mentor-based RKI Inc., which operates the Roll-Kraft steel manufacturing facility, with 12 alleged safety violations carrying proposed penalties of $69,650. The company has been cited for failing to properly protect workers against electrical and machine hazards, and for not providing required safety training.

OSHA has cited the company with one willful and seven serious safety violations following an inspection in January. Some of these violations include the company's failure to provide adequate guarding on lathes, grinding and other dangerous machines; to develop and implement training on locking a machine's energy source, and alerting others about the state of that power source; and to provide proper fire response training.

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. An OSHA violation is serious if death or serious physical harm can result from a hazard an employer knew or should have known exists.

The company also has received four other-than-serious violations for failing to properly record past workplace injuries.

"It is the responsibility of employers to ensure workers are provided with proper safety protection against electrical and machine hazards, and that they receive proper emergency training," said OSHA Area Director Rob Medlock in Cleveland, Ohio. "Those who ignore these safety and health regulations are inviting tragedy into the lives of their workers."

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. To report workplace accidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

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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