Workplace safety is taken seriously throughout the country. This is illustrated by the potential penalties that Lowe's Companies Inc. is facing for health and safety violations recently found in three Pennsylvania stores. The violations were uncovered during OSHA's Site-Specific Targeting Program that is designed for use in industries that historically report high rates of illness and injury.

The stores in which the violations were discovered are located in Hanover, Carlisle and Palmyra, Pennsylvania. In total, 11 violations were found in the three stores. Of that amount, 10 were safety and health violations for which the company has previously been cited. In total, the business is potentially facing a penalty of $96,030.

The store located in Hanover was cited for electrical hazards and the obstruction of a fire alarm station. Its proposed penalties totaled $990. Three of the store's violations were repeats.

The Palmyra store is potentially facing a penalty of $33,220. It stems from two repeat violations for not providing employees dealing with hazardous liquid chemicals with appropriate protective wear.

Facing the largest potential penalty is the Carlisle store. It received five repeat violations for not providing employees dealing with hazardous liquid chemicals with appropriate protective wear, not labeling hazardous chemical containers and electrical hazards. It total, it will potentially have to pay a penalty of $61,820.

The director of OSHA's Harrisburg Area Office expressed his frustration with the number of repeat violations. He said the stores are putting employees at risk by not dealing with the problems the first time they are identified. In total, the three stores employ 492 individuals.

Source: Occupational Health & Safety, "Lowe's Nailed for Repeat Violations at Three Pennsylvania Stores," Oct. 14, 2011