Elk Grove Village siding company facing $103K in fines over safety violations

A northwest suburban company faces $103,000 in fines for safety violations that could have caused workers to be seriously cut or have limbs amputated, according to federal officials.

Rollex Corp., a maker of metal home siding products, is facing its third set of violations in three years, according to a statement from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

OSHA inspectors went to the company at 800 Chase Ave. in Elk Grove Village in October 2014 after receiving a complaint, the statement said.

They found safety violations that could have resulted in workers being seriously cut or lacerated, the statement said. Workers were also in danger of amputation because machines were not shut down properly before repair and maintenance, and did not have proper safety devices.

“More than 200,000 workers are injured by machines in the United States annually. Employees pay the painful price when companies don’t follow standards to reduce injuries,” Angeline Loftus, area director of OSHA’s Chicago North Office, said in the statement.

“Rollex Corp. needs to act now to put required safety guards in place on large industrial machines that workers use to form and cut steel and aluminum,” Lofton said.

Similar violations were found at Rollex Corp. in September 2011 and May 2012, OSHA said. The company was issued one repeat violation and five other serious violations stemming from October’s inspection, which carry a proposed $103,000 in fines.