U.S. Labor Department Files Whistleblower Lawsuit vs. Specialty Steelmaker
10/03/2014 - A lawsuit alleging that North Jackson Specialty Steel terminated a furnace operator for reporting unsafe working conditions at its North Jackson steel mill has been filed by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The suit alleges the company violated the whistleblower protection provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and seeks restoration of lost pay and benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, and compensation for attorney and other fees. North Jackson Specialty Steel is believed to be a part of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products.
"North Jackson Specialty Steel fired this employee for reporting unsafe conditions that jeopardized the safety of all workers at the mill," said Nick Walters, regional administrator for OSHA in Chicago. "No American worker should be subjected to dismissal for requesting safe working conditions. The department will do everything in its power to prevent this type of unlawful retaliation."
The department's lawsuit alleges that North Jackson Specialty Steel terminated the furnace operator's employment on 19 June 2012, four days after the employee voiced concerns to management that the company had jeopardized worker safety by intentionally disabling a safety feature that controlled the operating temperature of a furnace.
The employee learned that the safety feature had been disabled after the furnace overheated during production of a metal alloy on 15 June 15. When the incident occurred, the operator instituted emergency shut-down procedures and evacuated employees in the vicinity. The operator reported the situation to a supervisor, who ordered the furnace restarted to save the alloy being produced. Upon restart, the furnace overheated again and broke down. It was only then that the supervisor informed the operator that the safety device controlling operating temperature had been disabled.
During employment with North Jackson Specialty Steel, the employee frequently raised safety concerns to management about the provision and maintenance of personal protective equipment, production of metal alloys and other processes.
The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and the department's Regional Office of the Solicitor in Chicago is litigating the case.
"North Jackson Specialty Steel fired this employee for reporting unsafe conditions that jeopardized the safety of all workers at the mill," said Nick Walters, regional administrator for OSHA in Chicago. "No American worker should be subjected to dismissal for requesting safe working conditions. The department will do everything in its power to prevent this type of unlawful retaliation."
The department's lawsuit alleges that North Jackson Specialty Steel terminated the furnace operator's employment on 19 June 2012, four days after the employee voiced concerns to management that the company had jeopardized worker safety by intentionally disabling a safety feature that controlled the operating temperature of a furnace.
The employee learned that the safety feature had been disabled after the furnace overheated during production of a metal alloy on 15 June 15. When the incident occurred, the operator instituted emergency shut-down procedures and evacuated employees in the vicinity. The operator reported the situation to a supervisor, who ordered the furnace restarted to save the alloy being produced. Upon restart, the furnace overheated again and broke down. It was only then that the supervisor informed the operator that the safety device controlling operating temperature had been disabled.
During employment with North Jackson Specialty Steel, the employee frequently raised safety concerns to management about the provision and maintenance of personal protective equipment, production of metal alloys and other processes.
The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and the department's Regional Office of the Solicitor in Chicago is litigating the case.
