OSHA cites national logistics company’s Wisconsin facility for exposing workers to powered industrial vehicle, electrical hazards

Employer name: Dedicated Logistics Inc.
2720 Enloe Ave.
Hudson, Wisconsin         

Citations issued: Oct. 20, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Eau Claire Area Office has cited Dedicated Logistics Inc. for one repeated and four serious safety violations after receiving a complaint of unsafe working conditions.

In its June 2016 investigation, the agency found the company:

• Failed to remove damaged powered industrial vehicles from service; inspect and repair them as required.
• Blocked exit routes.
• Exposed workers to live electrical parts and blocked electrical service panels.
• Stored gas cylinders improperly.

OSHA cited the transportation and logistics company for unsafe use of powered industrial vehicles at a facility in Illinois in September 2012.

Quote: “Each year hundreds of workers are injured by powered industrial vehicles in the workplace,” said Mark Hysell, OSHA’s area director in Eau Claire. “Dedicated Logistics needs to immediately remove damaged powered industrial vehicles until they are repaired and determined to be safe to operate.”

Proposed Penalties: $109,211.

View Citations here.

Background: Based in Oakdale, Minnesota, Dedicated Logistics Inc. provided fleet and contract transportation and logistics services. The company is an affiliate of Total Logistics Inc. which employees 880 workers at 33 facilities.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency’s Eau Claire Area Office at (715) 832-9019.