USW Thanks OSHA for Republic Steel Citations
08/16/2013 - The United Steelworkers (USW) expressed gratitude to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) for the 12 August 2013 citations issued to Republic Steel.
The union filed a complaint with OSHA earlier this year over safety concerns at the steelmaker'sCanton, Ohio, facility. The ensuing inspection resulted in citations for 24 safety violations.
"We always prefer to work jointly on safety with employers. But when they refuse to correct the conditions that threaten our members' lives, we're thankful for OSHA," said Dave McCall, the USW's director of its Ohio district. "The OSHA inspectors and other staff did a superb job."
Safety violations included the lack of fall protection, failure to protect workers working in confined spaces, faulty electrical boxes in wet locations and the lack of proper training. The citations came with a penalty of US$1.14 million.
While it is grateful for the protection the OSHA citations provide, the union stated that it was unfortunate that the inspection and enforcement were necessary.
"We have tried to work jointly with Republic to avoid these violations," said McCall. "However, it is obvious that some in management do not understand the seriousness of inaction."
The USW represents about 850,000 workers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean in a wide variety of industries, ranging from glassmaking to mining, paper, steel, tire and rubber to the public sector, service and health care industries.
