Transportation Firm Facing $145,420 in OSHA Fines for Forklift and Fall Hazards

Central Transport LLC is facing $145,420 in OSHA fines for alleged forklift and fall hazards at its Hillside, Ill., truck terminal.

OSHA cited the company for 16 alleged violations, including five repeat, one willful and two serious safety violations.

OSHA said its inspection found repeat and willful violations that involved defective powered industrial vehicles and lack of fall protection.

“Central Transport has been repeatedly cited for unsafe conditions and equipment,” said Angeline Loftus, OSHA’s area director for the Chicago North Office in Des Plaines. “Companies that repeatedly violate basic safety standards consistently put their employees at risk of serious injury and death.”

OSHA opened the March 28 inspection in response to a complaint. The inspection included an evaluation of forklift use, as required by the Local Emphasis Program for Powered Industrial Vehicles. OSHA implemented the program to reduce fatalities and injuries caused by these vehicles, which have been the source of 105 occupational fatalities during fiscal years 2005 through 2013 in Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio.

OSHA issued one willful violation for allegedly failing to remove forklifts from service that needed repair.

Five repeat violations were issued and included failure to have platform guardrails in place on platforms, which exposed workers to falls of more than four feet, and maintain terminal dock and bay floors clean and dry.

Additionally, the company allegedly failed to train workers on chemical hazards before assigning them to work with the substances, did not provide eye-drenching facilities for areas where corrosive chemicals were in use and failed to maintain the yard and terminal roadway free of potholes and hazards.

In September, OSHA cited the company for similar violations at its Rock Island terminal that involved defective powered industrial vehicles and lack of fall protection, with proposed penalties of $108,020. The company has contested those violations.

OSHA cited Central Transport in 2009, 2010 and 2013 at locations in Georgia, Ohio and Mississippi for similar violations.

The agency issued two serious violations for allegedly failing to have handrails on stairs with four or more risers, not installing slip-resistant treads on stairs and failing to guard the floor opening on a pit to prevent falls.

Central Transport, based in Warren, Mich., employs about 4,300 workers at 170 locations nationwide. The Hillside terminal has about 100 employees.

The company has contested the findings and will appear before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.