"worker was killed by block left in press...."

The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has posted incidents where workers were servicing or maintaining machines or equipment were seriously injured or killed when the hazardous energy was not properly controlled.

Many instances involving lock out tag out occur when stored energy is unexpectedly released injuring or killing a worker. Some workers will place/insert a “block” or customized fabrication to be a final stop gap measure when maintaining the machinery. Though this step has been recommended previously by the APSB in response to a series of incidents where a block may have prevented an injury or fatality. Here is a recent incident on what can occur if the “block” or customized fabrication is left in the machinery prior to production.

Deputies say a worker was killed last week after a block was left in a machine at a machinery company in the Northeast USA during the week of December 1, 2016.

The Sheriff's Office says the block was placed in the 200 ton press to keep it from running while maintenance was performed.

But, the block was not removed when the machine turned on and deputies say shrapnel from the block hit and killed a worker.

OSHA is investigating the incident, but say the machinery company has not been cited for any issues in the last five years.

The APSB offers our sincere condolences to the deceased worker’s family, friends and coworkers. Though it provides little solace we pray that those who knew the deceased will remember how he lived and not how he died.

We pray that the worker(s) that left the block in the machinery are offered mental health counseling. We have spoken to workers who correctly or incorrectly place blame upon themselves for the injury or death of a coworker(s). The pain that is associated with this self-blame is over whelming too many. Nor does the pain cease. That pain not only affects the individual worker but spreads and affects their families too.

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