Two Northwest Indiana companies face more than $27,500 in fines after state investigators found unsafe working conditions, NWI.com reports.
The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) said it is fining Industrial Steel Construction, 86 N. Bridge St., Gary, $17,500 for serious safety violations, including repeat offenses.
NWI.com quoted the state agency as saying that workers at the former American Bridge fabricating facility, where about 330 workers build steel bridges, were exposed to too-high an airborne concentration of particulates, which the company also was cited for in 2016. “The company was ordered to put in place new administrative and engineering controls after workers were exposed to 84.8 times as many airborne particulates as allowed, according to the IOSHA investigators’ report,” according to the report.
Meanwhile, Jupiter Aluminum, an aluminum recycling facility on 165th St. in Hammond, received a $10,000 fine or serious safety violations.
IOSHA cited the company after investigators discovered truck operators were not receiving training about workplace hazards. The company recycles more than 150,000 tons of aluminum scrap per year at its 24/7 operation at 1745 165th St.
Both companies can contest the fines and safety orders.
