The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has
cited Chicago Dryer Co. for twenty one safety and health violations, comprised of one willful
and twenty serious safety and health violations. They come in response to an inspection of a
worksite in Chicago, Illinois in October of 2014 in response to an employee complaint of the
worksite. These violations are for hazards relating to exposing workers to struck-by hazards
because the company used damaged crane slings to carry 3,000 pound cylinders. These
violations carry proposed penalties of $171,000.
“When a press brake lacks safety features, one slip and a worker can lose a hand,” said Angeline
Loftus, area director of OSHA’s Chicago North Area Office in Des Plaines. “OSHA found
multiple serious violations in this industrial setting. Chicago Dryer needs to address the use of
damaged equipment immediately and lack of training that puts workers at risk for serious and
potentially fatal injuries.”
There were also citations for unguarded press brakes; not removing damaged crane slings and
powered industrial vehicles from use; exposed workers to fall hazards because railings were not
installed on open stairs and working surfaces; and failed to develop machine-specific procedures
for controlling unintentional machine operation during service and maintenance, including
affixing locking devices.
If you have any concerns about your occupational safety and health procedures, it is important to
review them, so as to protect yourself from excessive fees off citations in the event of an audit.
If you have any questions about this case or about setting up a third party safety audit, please
contact us. If you have anything to add about the importance of ensuring all safety regulations
are updated, please leave a comment.
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