United must pay $192,500 in additional fines

Chicago-based United Airlines is facing another round of hefty federal fines at a time when it's been confronted by major losses and soaring fuel costs.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Tuesday it has proposed $192,500 in fines for alleged multiple and repeat violations of federal workplace standards at United's O'Hare operations last November.

Also, United faces about $215,500 in other OSHA fines from earlier this month that still are pending.

United, which has operations in Elk Grove Township, has worked with OSHA throughout the inspection, said United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy.

"We will evaluate OSHA's specific findings and will meet with OSHA to continue discussing the improvements we have made during and after the on-site assessment, which was completed in February," McCarthy said.

OSHA selected United for this latest inspection after reviewing occupational injury and illness data. No injuries were reported, said OSHA spokesman Scott Allen. He declined to provide details on what led OSHA to do the inspection.

The serious violations include health hazards with the design of flammable liquid storage cabinets and rooms; an open-sided tank containing corrosive liquid; and failure to conduct an asbestos survey for the presence and quantity of materials containing asbestos, the report said.

"The citation did not specify what the corrosive liquid was; however, the containers of hazardous chemicals included petroleum solvents, acetone, potassium hydroxide and isopropyl alcohol," Allen said.

United also allegedly did not use or maintain respiratory equipment properly or have an appropriate administrator to oversee the program, Allen said.

United Airlines has 15 business days to respond to OSHA.

Since 2004, OSHA has inspected United 23 times at various locations nationwide. United's operations at O'Hare have been inspected nine times since 2000, with four occasions resulting in citations, the report said.

Last year, American Airlines Inc. had two sets of fines totaling $500,000 for safety-related violations at its Chicago hub. Those violations are still pending.