The U.S. Department of Labor has cited an Urbana auto parts store and dealer for 20 different safety and health violations.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Bill Smith Auto Parts Inc. of Urbana for 14 safety and six health violations for exposing workers to equipment hazards and failing to implement health programs for respiratory protection, according to a release issued by the Department of Labor.

The company faces fines of $49,000 following the January inspection.

Bill Smith Auto Parts also has locations in Danville, Bloomington and Racine, Wis. It sells parts and used cars.

"This company failed to take basic precautions such as installing machine guarding, properly maintaining powered industrial trucks and ensuring the proper storage of potentially hazardous materials," said Tom Bielema, director for OSHA's Peoria Area Office in a release. "Employers are responsible for knowing what hazards exist in their facilities and for following OSHA standards to ensure the safety and health of their workers."

Bill Smith Auto Parts vice president Marion Smith said the company "is grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to employee safety and the welfare of the environment. The company is working side by side with OSHA and believes with 100 percent certainty that all issues will be resolved to the mutual satisfaction of all parties involved."

"Bill Smith is committed to the safety and welfare of its employees and the overall environment," she said in her statement to The News-Gazette.

OSHA found 13 serious safety violations: a lack of guarding on open-sided floors, a lack of a work rest on grinder machinery, failing to properly store compressed gas cylinders, modifying powered industrial trucks for noncertified uses, not providing guarding on pulleys and other equipment lower than 7 feet from the floor to prevent struck-by hazards and not removing damaged cords and electrical equipment from use.

The department also listed five serious health violations. They include failing to have a written respirator program, develop and implement a hazardous communications program, mark hazardous material containers properly, have material data safety sheets available for hazardous materials in use and conduct hazardous chemical training.

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known, according to OSHA.

One other-than-serious safety violation was cited for unsanitary conditions in restrooms, and one other-than-serious health violation was cited for failing to post visible "no smoking" signs in areas where flammable materials were present. According to the department, an other-than-serious citation has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

The Department of Labor said the company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before OSHA's independent commission.