United is fined $215,500 by OSHA
Chicago-based United Airlines Inc. is facing $215,500 in fines for alleged workplace safety violations cited by the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
OSHA made inspections last December at O'Hare International Airport and issued notices to United on Thursday of 43 serious violations and four repeat violations, agency spokesman Scott Allen said.
Officials from United, which has operations in Elk Grove Township, said Friday the company has been taking steps to correct the problems.
A meeting between OSHA and United has not yet been scheduled.
"The safety of our employees and customers on and off of our aircraft is always the highest priority at United, and this inspection was an opportunity for us to continue strengthening our workplace safety," Terry Brady, United's vice president of airport operations at O'Hare, said in a statement.
United has 15 days to either appeal the allegations or negotiate a settlement, Allen said.
"Our objective at OSHA is not just to collect money but to ensure that the companies abate those violations and to make the workplace safer," Allen said.
The violations involve fall protection, hazardous energy control procedures and training, storage of oxygen and fuel-gas cylinders, platform load ratings and electrical hazards. The four repeat violations, based on citations issued and affirmed in 2006 and 2007, cover machine guarding and electrical issues, the agency said.
United said it has repaired damaged conduit, installed electrical outlet plates, installed new machine guards and removed tripping hazards.
OSHA said the inspections came after reviewing occupational injury and illness data, which included ramp services and flight attendant operations, among other areas.
Since 2004, OSHA has inspected United 22 times nationwide. United operations at O'Hare International Airport have been inspected eight times since 2000 with three resulting in citations, the agency said.
Last year, American Airlines Inc. had two sets of fines totaling a half-million dollars for safety-related violations at its Chicago hub.