Osha fines united airlines more than $190k

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Chicago-based carrier United Airlines multiple times for “serious, willful, and repeat violations” of workplace safety laws. The proposed fines total $192,500. The OSHA has cited a total of 44 violations, all of which were discovered during the course of a November, 2007 inspection of United Airlines’ operations at O’Hare National Airport. These include 39 serious violations totaling $112,000 in fines, as well as one willful violation with a $70,000 fine attached, a repeat violation for $7,500, and three non-serious violations totaling $3,000. Among the 44 violations are a failure to carry out an asbestos survey in the facilities to determine the presence and quality of asbestos-containing materials, improper design of flammable liquid storage rooms and cabinets, inappropriately labeled containers of hazardous chemicals, and alleged failure to use or properly maintain respiratory equipment, and to have an administrator to oversee a respiratory safety program. Chicago OSHA Director Diane Turek said of the United Airlines violations, “These violations should not exist at any worksite. They are problems that can be avoided if an employer is dedicated to protecting employees. Employers must remain dedicated to keeping the workplace safe and healthful or face close scrutiny by this agency.” A United Airlines spokesperson has said in a statement on the violations and fines, “There is nothing more important than the safety of employees and customers, and United considers this assessment an opportunity to focus on strengthening key areas of workplace safety.” United Airlines says the company plans to meet with OSHA officials to discuss the findings of the inspection and discuss possible improvements that can be made to solve the problems that were discovered. Spokesperson Megan McCarthy said, “We will evaluate OSHA’s specific findings and will meet with OSHA to continue discussing the improvements we have made during and after the on-site assessment, which was completed in February.” United Airlines was selected by OSHA for the November inspection after a review of occupational injury and illness data, but the agency has not elaborated on the factors that contributed to its decision to carry out the inspection. This is the second set of violations for United Airlines this month: earlier in May the carrier was fined $215,500 by the OSHA for other federal safety and health violations. An OSHA spokesperson, Brad Mitchell, says that United Airlines will most likely pay less than the combined total of $408,000 in fines if the carrier can prove it has made progress in correcting the violations that were noted during the inspection. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)