Indiana steel mill cited for excessive lead, cadmium dust

State safety officials have ordered a northwestern Indiana steel mill to lessen employee contact with hazardous substances after finding some workers were exposed to lead and cadmium.

Indiana’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the order to the ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor steel mill in East Chicago, saying a worker was exposed to lead dust at 20 times the permissible exposure limit and cadmium dust at 14 times the limit for eight hours. The mill is being fined $10,000 for the violations.

ArcelorMittal spokeswoman Mary Beth Holdford tells The Northwest Indiana Times that the company has “robust programs” to comply with safety standards and is working with the Indiana agency to resolve the issues.