Region 5 News Release: 12-1389-CHI
July 16, 2012
Contact: Scott Allen Rhonda Burke
Phone: 312-353-6976
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov burke.rhonda@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA cites Raani Corp. for
14 safety and health violations at Bedford Park, Ill., plant

BEDFORD PARK, Ill. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Raani Corp. in Bedford Park for 14 safety and health violations, such as failing to protect workers from improperly guarded power saws and hazardous chemicals, among others. OSHA initiated a safety inspection on Feb. 14 and a health inspection on Feb. 24. Proposed penalties from both inspections total $60,300.

"Employers have a responsibility to protect their workers from workplace hazards and dangerous chemicals," said Gary Anderson, director of OSHA's Calumet City Area Office. "It is imperative that employers make the commitment to safety and health to ensure that employees are not continually exposed to hazards such as these."

Six serious safety violations involve failing to perform inspections of the electrical "lockout" program for machines' energy sources; guard saws, sanders and grinders; and conduct daily forklift inspections. Six serious health violations involve failing to evaluate and label permit-required confined spaces, repair welding cables, properly enclose electrical receptacles located in a wet area and determine workers' 8-hour time-weighted averages for exposures to chromium, benzene and formaldehyde. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

One other-than-serious health violation is failing to properly maintain OSHA 300 logs to record injuries and illnesses and one other-than-serious safety violation is failing to ensure that proper electrical wiring is used in a hazardous location. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

In December 2011, a worker died from chemical burns sustained at the plant. OSHA conducted an investigation and issued citations in May, carrying proposed penalties of $473,000, for 14 violations. OSHA also placed Raani Corp. in the agency's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations and mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law. Raani Corp. has contested the citations and fines.

Raani Corp. manufactures health care items, over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, and household and salon products. The company employs about 150 workers, of whom nearly half are temporary day workers. Raani Corp. has 15 business days from receipt of its current 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.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint or report 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 Calumet City office at 708-891-3800.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille or CD from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.