"...this facility exposed workers to serious and life-altering injuries"

Government safety organizations around the globe have been tasked to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for workers by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. How effective each organization is varies around the globe. Nevertheless, the Aluminium Plant Safety Blog would rather post stories of companies being cited for failure to adhere to safety standards then posting stories about incidents. It is our hope that by posting these incidents that the readers will review their facility for similar circumstances. Here is a recent story:

Workers were exposed to amputation and other serious hazards while operating presses at aluminium extrusion’s parts manufacturing facility, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found. OSHA cited one repeated and eight serious safety and health violations at the facility, with proposed penalties of € 56,000.

"Lack of worker protections at this facility exposed workers to serious and life-altering injuries," said OSHA's area director. "The aluminium extrusion company has a responsibility to protect workers from known hazards at its jobsite, and the number of violations there demonstrates a lack of commitment to that obligation."

An OSHA inspection in the Fall of 2014 found that two operating machines, including a sander and multipurpose press in the fabrication area, lacked proper safety mechanisms, which exposed workers to amputation and other serious hazards. The company was cited for a similar violation at this facility in 2013.

OSHA issues repeated violations if an employer previously was cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states in the last five years.

Workers also were exposed to unguarded platforms and floor openings, electrical hazards and unsecured shelving and storage units. The aluminium extrusion company also failed to store gas cylinders properly, did not implement lockout/tagout procedures and inadequately guarded the point-of-operation of some operating machines, such as press brakes.

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.

This company manufactures custom aluminum extrusions and finishes and 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 the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

All of the violations listed above have been cited previously in Aluminium Plant Safety Blog posts. It is our hope that this aluminium company will not have an incident involving any of those violations. Let alone have any incidents in general. We also pray that every company in our industry never has an incident.

Occupational Safety Health Administration has some useful information regarding the proper handling and storage of gas cyclinders. It can be viewed here.

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