A worker in Houston was crushed to death by machinery because his employer failed to provide adequate machine guarding, according to OSHA officers who investigated the May 6, 2016 fatality.
The agency found that commercial furniture maker CACO Manufacturing failed to securely anchor or guard machines, did not properly identify lock out/tag out devices used to prevent sudden start-up or movement of machine parts and lacked energy control procedures. Additionally, the company was cited for failing to train employees on hazardous chemicals present in the workplace.
The agency issued a total of14 serious and six other citations to CACO as a result.
Proposed penalties: $102,200.00
"A worker's life ended tragically because CACO Manufacturing failed to ensure proper safety procedures were followed," said Mark Briggs, OSHA's area director in Houston. "This employer must take responsibility for the safety and health of its employees, and take immediate steps to reduce the dangers of working with heavy machinery and hazardous chemicals."
CACO manufactures commercial furniture for the service industry, amusement parks, military installations, retail stores and universities.