Region 5 News Release: 11-1571-CHI
Nov. 15, 2011
Contact: Scott Allen Rhonda Burke
Phone: 312-353-6976 312-353-6976
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov burke.rhonda@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA proposes more than $150,000 in fines to
Electronic Plating Co. in Cicero, Ill., for chemical and physical hazards

CICERO, Ill. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Electronic Plating Co. in Cicero for 22 health and safety violations. OSHA opened an inspection after receiving a report that employees were performing small parts plating operations without protection against chemical and physical hazards. Proposed fines total $151,400.

"Electronic Plating Co. has a responsibility to ensure that its workers are protected from exposure to hazardous chemicals and noise," said Gary Anderson, OSHA's area director in Calumet City. "Employers are required by law to ensure that work environments are healthful and safe. OSHA is committed to protecting the health and safety of workers on the job, especially when employers fail to do so."

Two willful health violations involve failing to implement a hearing conservation program, and failing to provide eye wash stations for workers exposed to corrosive chemicals such as sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirement or plain indifference for employee safety and health. Proposed fines for the willful violations total $77,000.

Nine serious health violations involve failing to provide periodic health examinations intended to detect overexposure to hazardous chemicals for employees working with chromic acid; failing to provide and train employees in the use of protective clothing; failing to provide and require the use of protective eye equipment; failing to institute medical surveillance, as well as provide training, for employees potentially exposed to cadmium above the action level; failing to properly label containers of hazardous materials and train employees on protection from hazardous chemicals; and failing to develop and implement a written hazard communication program.

Seven serious safety violations involve failing to provide standard guardrails, implement an energy control program, provide workers with personal protective equipment to guard against electrical hazards, properly train forklift operators and provide guarding on machinery. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. Proposed fines for the 16 serious violations total $71,400.

Four other-than-serious violations, with proposed fines of $3,000, involve failing to record work-related injuries and illnesses as required on the OSHA 300 log, provide lavatories with both hot and cold or tepid running water, and provide a written respiratory protection program for voluntary use. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/ElectronicPlatingCo_315157792_315157800_1102_11.pdf*.

Electronic Plating Co. 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 ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call the OSHA toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Calumet City Office at 708-891-3800.

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 ensure 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 news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.

* Accessibility Assistance: Contact OSHA's Office of Communications at 202-693-1999 for assistance accessing PDF documents.