Ill.’s Caterpillar Inc. Fined $66,000 by OSHA

Caterpillar Inc. in East Peoria has been hit with proposed penalties of $66,000 for three safety violations for failing to follow proper procedures to lock out and tag out the energy sources of equipment, according to OSHA.

This follows an investigation by OSHA into a December 2010 incident in which an employee was injured while attempting to clear a jam on the link orienter in the full link heat treat area. Lockout/tagout provisions for the equipment had not been implemented prior to the employee entering the area.

Two repeat violations include failing to train employees on lockout/tagout procedures and to affix a lockout or tagout device to isolate energy to the link orienter. Caterpillar was cited for the same violations at the same facility in May 2009.

Caterpillar Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings.

Source: OSHA