UPS hit with $73k fine for safety violations
Danielle LernerUPS was slapped with a $73,800 fine recently after federal inspectors found safety violations at the company's airplane hangar at the Louisville airport, according to federal agency records.
In October of this year, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued two penalties of $70,000 and $3,800 to UPS, according to an OSHA inspection detail. Inspectors cited two workplace safety violations discovered during a surprise inspection at a UPS hangar at 750 Grade Lane in Louisville.
The first violation was issued for failure to properly guard an open-sided platform or floor raised at least 4 feet above ground level, records show. OSHA regulations state such a platform must have a standard railing installed on all open sides except where there is entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder. The violation was deemed "willful," meaning the employer purposefully disregarded or showed indifference to safety standards.
UPS's second violation was related to sanitary conditions in the workplace and was deemed "serious," one with the potential to cause an accident or illness that could lead to death or serious physical harm.
In an emailed statement Thursday, UPS Airlines spokesman Mike Mangeot said the company addressed the concerns noted in the violations immediately after they occurred.
"You can never rest when it comes to safety, so on the rare occasion when there is an issue, we address it promptly and review our program to make it even stronger going forward," he said.
According to the inspection detail, the citations were issued Oct. 7. The deadline by which UPS was mandated to fix the hazards that led to the violations was set for Oct. 11. The case status is listed as "pending abatement of violations," meaning OSHA has yet to determine whether UPS has taken appropriate actions to correct the violations.
Mangeot said UPS has disputed the imposed penalties through the Kentucky Department of Labor process, but the online inspection detail shows no record of the violations being contested. When notified of the discrepancy, Mangeot doubled down on the statement.
"I can't speak to the state's filings, but we are most certainly contesting the matter," he said.
OSHA compliance requirements dictate that employers wishing to contest a citation must submit a written notice within 15 working days after receipt of the citation and notification of penalty.
The $73,800 penalty issued to UPS is the third-highest levied in Kentucky in 2016, according to U.S. Department of Labor records. Lexington armored car company Garda CL Central incurred a $103,400 fine and Henderson, Ky. company Gibbs Die Casting Corporation received a $91,000 fine.
The online record lists the UPS case status as open.
In November of this year, UPS aircraft mechanics sought a federal injunction in which they alleged that the company allowed the use of unsafe lifts.
Reporter Danielle Lerner can be reached at dlerner@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4042.
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