US Chutes Corp. faces $94,248 in fines for repeated and serious violations

HARTFORD, Conn. — U.S. Chutes Corp. exposed employees to chemical, mechanical, electrical and respiratory hazards during the manufacturing process at its Bantam plant, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found. A manufacturer of galvanized chutes for laundry and trash conveyors, the company faces $94,248 in fines.

ROSS, N.D. —For the eighth time, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Northern Excavating Co. for allowing its employees to work at great risk in trenches without cave-in protection and a safe means to exit the trench.

WESTON, Ohio — While operating an industrial machine, a worker at MCM Precision Castings Inc. was exposed to noise levels that averaged 97 decibels, equal to the noise of a jackhammer, over his eight-hour shift. MCM Precision Castings Inc. employees were also exposed to dangerously high noise levels and crystalline silica dust, a cause of chronic lung disease, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Workers doing renovation at the former Dye Works at 15 Cottage St. in Easthampton faced potentially fatal falls of up to 40 feet because their employers failed to provide proper protection, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found. OSHA inspectors visited the work site on July 11, 2014, in response to a complaint about fall hazards there.

LUCASVILLE, Ohio — Faced one night with a trip over mountainous terrain in a medical transport helicopter with a faulty emergency locator transmitter, a pilot refused to fly the unsafe aircraft and was later terminated in retaliation for doing so. An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration followed. As a result, Air Methods Corp. was ordered to reinstate the pilot, pay $158,000 in back wages and $8,500 in damages, and remove disciplinary information from the employee's personnel record.

LUCASVILLE, Ohio — Faced one night with a trip over mountainous terrain in a medical transport helicopter with a faulty emergency locator transmitter, a pilot refused to fly the unsafe aircraft and was later terminated in retaliation for doing so. An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration followed. As a result, Air Methods Corp. was ordered to reinstate the pilot, pay $158,000 in back wages and $8,500 in damages, and remove disciplinary information from the employee's personnel record.

OSHA cites Transition of Superior Systems for 25 serious violations; fines total $51,600

LUBBOCK, Texas — Working at an industrial facility is dangerous. An employer who ignores serious hazards and puts workers in harm's way threatens everyone's well-being, a point not lost on U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators who identified 25 serious safety and health violations after a July 2014 inspection at Transition of Superior Systems in Merkel. Fines totaled $51,600.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. —— Dollar General store employees in Wolcott could not exit the store swiftly during a fire or emergency because of a locked emergency door in the store's back room, an Oct. 24, 2014, inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found. In 2010, OSHA cited the retail chain for the same hazard at a store in Buffalo.

PEKIN, Ill. — A 37-year-old worker at Agridyne's Pekin facility climbed down into a rail car to clean out corn steep residue and was overcome by dangerous hydrogen sulfide gas. A 29-year-old tank inspector, who attempted to rescue the first worker, succumbed to the gas exposure as well. Neither worker made it out of the car alive.

DALTON, Ga. — An MFG Chemical Inc. worker died after hazardous chemical vapors released from an overpressurized reactor burned his respiratory system. A second employee was treated at a hospital and released. A July 2014 inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration resulted in citations for MFG for 17 safety and health violations. OSHA initiated the inspection after a media referral alleged that a chemical release at the manufacturing facility had occurred.

CHANNAHON, Ill. — For the third time in two years, a chemical tank cleaning service has exposed workers cleaning portable tank wagons to dangerous confined space hazards. Responding to a complaint, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found seven repeated and two serious violations at Dedicated TCS LLC's Channahon site. OSHA has proposed penalties of $79,464.

EDGERTON, Wis. — Diaz Roofing LLC allowed four employees to reshingle a residential rooftop without required fall protection, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found. As a result, OSHA cited the roofing company for one willful and one serious safety violation with proposed penalties of $73,080. The company has been cited previously 11 times for lack of fall protection.

Company fails to provide fall protection on job site

OSHA fines company more than $170K for willfully putting employees at risk

ST. MARYS, Ohio — Three employees were exposed to dangerous levels of lead, arsenic, iron oxide and copper particles and fumes while torch-cutting steel at a scrapyard operated by OmniSource St. Marys. Their employer, CS Metals Inc., did not provide required personal protective equipment or health monitoring, a June 2014 investigation by the U.S.