OSHA Fines Illinois Steel Erection Contractor $75,460 for Fall Hazards

Quinco Steel Inc., located in Chicago Heights, has been cited by OSHA for four repeat safety violations after people were observed working at heights without fall protection during a January job site inspection in Chicago. The steel erection contractor faces penalties totaling $75,460.

The violations include failing to attach a lanyard to an aerial lift; failing to provide fall protection for workers climbing over the rails of an aerial lift; allowing a worker to perform detailing operations during steel erection at heights of 27 feet; and allowing another unprotected employee to perform work at a height of 37 feet.

The company has been inspected by OSHA 14 times since 1999. The agency previously issued citations for 13 serious, repeat and willful violations related to aerial lift usage and steel erection.

OSHA standards require that an effective form of fall protection, such as guardrails, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems, be in use when workers are engaged in steel erection activity more than 15 feet above the next lower level.

Source: OSHA