Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025
5,194,531Inspections Most recent open 2026-08-11 Last loaded 2026-08-14

OSHA Inspection: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

Complaint inspection · Safety discipline

On , OSHA opened a complaint safety inspection of SOUTHWEST AIRLINES in 5035 W. 55TTH STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60638 (NAICS 481111). OSHA activity number 335145595.

What this inspection record means

OSHA opens inspections for many reasons: routine scheduling under a national or local emphasis program, an employee complaint or referral, or a follow-up after a reported injury. Opening or conducting an inspection is not itself an allegation or a finding that this employer broke any rule; any findings appear as the citations listed below, and citations can be contested, reduced, or withdrawn.

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Establishment
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
Site address
5035 W. 55TTH STREET
City
CHICAGO
State
IL
ZIP
60638
Mailing
5035 W. 55TH STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60638
Inspection type
Complaint (B)
Scope
Partial (B)
Discipline
Safety
Advance notice
No
Union status
Union (A)
Opened
Closing conference
Case closed
Last modified
Data loaded
NAICS code
481111
Employees
35000
Ownership type
Private (A)

1 citation on file for this inspection.

1910.23 E01

Serious Gravity 10 2 exposed
Issued
Aug 24, 2012
Penalty
Initial $4,900 · Current $2,450 Reduced
29 CFR 1910.23(e)(1): A standard railing shall consist of top rail, intermediate rail, and posts, and shall have a vertical height of 42 inches nominal from upper surface of top rail to floor, platform, runway, or ramp level. The top rail shall be smooth-surfaced throughout the length of the railing. The intermediate rail shall be approximately halfway between the top rail and the floor, platform, runway, or ramp. The ends of the rails shall not overhang the terminal posts except where such overhang does not constitute a projection hazard.    Trashing / Recycling area - On ar about July 10, 2012, employee(s) were required to use an elevated platform approximately eight feet and one inch above ground level to dispose of trash. On the east side of the platform, the standard railing had two openings approximately 26 inches wide. Each opening contained a "tipper" unit that swung and tipped forward to allow for dumping.  A standard railing consisting of a top rail "only" was not provided over the two "tipper" units. Employee(s) were thereby exposed to the hazards associated with falls.
Recent events (2)
  • · I (S) $2450
  • · Z (S) $4900

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This record is reproduced from the U.S. Department of Labor Open Data API (OSHA inspection dataset). OSHA publishes its own view of this case as inspection number 335145595.

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