Federal safety officials have cited an Illinois pallet manufacturer for exposing employees unsafe levels of carbon monoxide in the workplace. The company faces proposed penalties totaling $216,253.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Cleary Pallet Sales Inc., a Genoa, Illinois-based pallet manufacturer, after 10 employees required emergency medical treatment for carbon monoxide exposure.
OSHA investigators inspected the facility in January 2018 and found that employees were exposed to carbon monoxide levels nearly 10 times the permissible exposure limit.
OSHA has cited Cleary Pallet Sales Inc. for failing to address high carbon monoxide level warnings; allowing employees to operate defective forklifts; failing to ensure adequate machine guarding; and failing to train workers on hazardous communications and forklift safety. A subsequent inspection conducted one month later found further machine safety violations at the facility.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
This article was first published by Insurance Journal.
