Chicago-American Airlines was cited by the Department of Labor for workplace safety violations at O’Hare International Airport. Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) administration has proposed $231,000 in penalties against Fort Worth-based American Airlines. The airline received 15 serious citations ranging from electrical issues, blocked exits, and storage of oxygen and acetylene cylinders. The airline also received a citation related to potential fall hazards. Some were repeat violations from a 2005 inspection.
OSHA inspected the airline’s ramp services, cargo building, automotive shops, ticket and gate services, tower, two hangars, and baggage room. American’s operations at O’Hare have been inspected 10 times since 2000, with five of the inspections resulting in citations.
A spokesman for the airline said that the airline already has corrected most of the items cited during the inspection and is working to address the rest.
American Airline contends that workplace safety record overall, and at Chicago O’Hare in particular, has improved significantly in the past two years. They are working toward further safety improvements. In Chicago, from 2004 through 2006, there has been an almost 40 percent improvement in the number of cases where an employee lost time at work due to injury.
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