The US Department of Labour's Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has fined a Chicago company USD165,200 after a worker fell from a forklift and died.

A maintenance employee at Custom Plastics Inc's Elk Grove Village plant had fallen 12 feet while elevated by a forklift to repair a light. OSHA inspected the plant in January after being told of the fatality.

OSHA issued citations to Custom Plastics for seven alleged violations of federal workplace safety and health regulations.

Custom Plastics allegedly failed to provide a platform secured to the lifting carriage or forks of the forklift and used forklifts that had holes drilled through the forks. Other violations included "unsafe practices of repairing energised equipment and failure to get manufacturer approval for modifying forklifts".

The company had 15 days from receipt of the citations to appeal to the Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission.

OSHA ensures the safety and health of US workers by setting and enforcing standards, conducting training, educating, establishing partnerships and encouraging continuous improvement in workplace health and safety.