New York fatality results in OSHA Investigation

A worker died in the Fall of 2011 at Upstate New York hospital from injuries suffered in an industrial accident at an aluminum rolling plant according to police. The worker injured October 4, when he got trapped in a piece of equipment he was operating, said the police. It was the second time in three months a worker has been injured at the plant.

Both the company and federal officials are investigating. The worker was a rolling technician who had worked at the plant since 2005. Novelis makes aluminum used in automobiles, beverage cans and other products. It was created in 2005 as a spin-off from aluminum producer Alcan Inc. The Scriba plant employs about 650 people.

Officials of the company and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration did not reveal any details about or potential causes of the accident. OSHA’s  area director, said his agency’s investigation could take three to four months. Investigators will inspect machinery, take photographs, interview employees and review plant procedures to see if there were any safety violations.

The accident happened in the evening , afterwards the plant temporarily suspended production after the incident, but has since resumed operations, The area where the accident occurred is still shut down while the company investigates. Another worker was injured previously during the summer in what was called a “serious incident.” That incident happened in another area of the plant and was unrelated to fall 2011 accident, he said. The company declined to reveal the severity of that worker’s injuries or current condition. OSHA is still investigating the summer incident.