A federal regulator has proposed fining Global Experience Specialists (GES) Inc USD91,000 for alleged safety violations after a forklift injured a worker.

The US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says GES committed four violations including willfully failing to ensure that powered forklift operators are trained.

The incident occurred at Chicago's McCormick Place convention centre in September 2012. A GES worker operating a forklift severely injured the foot of an employee from another company. After the incident, OSHA says GES failed to train or check the certification of the forklift operator.

OSHA says a willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements or plain indifference to employee safety and health.

Three serious safety violations cite GES for exposing workers to fall hazards during rigging operations and by not ensuring sufficient safe clearance to operate a forklift in aisles, loading docks and through doorways. OSHA says the employer failed to train forklift operators in site-specific hazards, such as pedestrian traffic areas.

Gary Anderson, OSHA's area director in Calumet City, Illinois, says, "Employers, such as GES, who rely on the use of forklifts in their daily operations, have a responsibility to train their workers in proper operations and to correct deficiencies immediately to prevent hazardous incidents from occurring. OSHA is committed to protecting workers on the job, especially when employers fail to do so."

OSHA has inspected operations of Las Vegas, Nevada-based GES 26 times since 1993 and issued 74 citations to the company. GES has 15 business days from receipt of the new citations and proposed 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.

GES has 61 offices worldwide and operates as the marketing and events group of publicly traded Phoenix, Arizona-based Viad Corp.

GES competitors include Audio Visual Services Group, Inc. of Long Beach, California; Freeman Decorating Services, Inc. of Dallas, Texas; and George P. Johnson Co of Auburn Hills, Michigan.