Home Depot Store in Chicago Cited by OSHA for Safety Violations
Home Depot Earnings Surge

WASHINGTON --  A Home Depot store in Chicago has been cited with multiple safety violations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Home Depot Store in Chicago Cited by OSHA for Safety Violations

The violations, which included lack of training and maintenance for powered industrial vehicles and failure to wear proper safety equipment around hazardous materials, carry monetary penalties of up to $110,000, federal officials said when announcing the violations. The North Kimball Avenue store was cited for failing to remove a vehicle in need of repair from service and also failing to evaluate forklift operators' performance at least once every three years. The company was also cited for failing to perform shift-by-shift inspections of forklifts. Additionally violations were issued for “exposing workers to chemical burns from sulfuric acid by failing to require the use of eye, face and hand protection when adding water or checking water levels in powered industrial vehicle batteries.” Home Depot also failed to provide an eyewash station for immediate emergency use for employees exposed to injurious corrosive materials while working with industrial batteries, OSHA officials said.

OSHA opened its investigation into the Chicago store in January.

Home Depot USA has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, federal officials said.

Nationwide, Home Depot has been cited more than 120 times in the past five years for safety and health violations at its stores, which employ about 325,000 people. The Kimball Avenue store employs 210.

Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.