Region 5 News Release:   V-446
July 25, 2001
Contact: Peggy Zweber
Phone: (309) 671-7033 or
Contact: Brad Mitchell
Phone: (312) 353-6976

Proposed Penalty Totals $101,000
OSHA ISSUES CITATIONS TO THE GRANITE CITY DIVISION OF THE NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION IN GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS.

CHICAGO -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations to the Granite City Division of the National Steel Corporation, Granite City, Ill., alleging seven safety and health violations with penalties totaling $101,000.

The citations allege violations of OSHA's recordkeeping, coke oven and benzene standards. The citations allege failure to record certain injuries and illnesses during 1999 and 2000 and to maintain or adequately prepare certain supplemental records regarding injuries and illnesses.

The citations also allege failure to provide physical examinations to certain employees exposed to benzene or who worked in the coke oven area as required by OSHA standards. The citations were classified as serious, other-than-serious and unclassified.

OSHA defines a serious violation as one in which a workplace hazard could cause an accident or illness that would most likely result in the death or serious physical harm of an employee and that the employer knew of the condition or should have known through reasonable diligence.

OSHA defines an other-than-serious violation as one in which a violative condition exists but would not result in the death or serious physical harm of an employee.

OSHA and Granite City Division settled the citations on the day of issuance, July 20, 2001 by executing an informal settlement agreement.

This information will be made available for the sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (312) 353-6976; TDD Message Referral Phone; 1-800-800-4571