I was recently involved in a tragic situation in which machine guarding failed not because the mechanical design was inadequate but because the human system around it fell victim to a well-known weakness.
An OSHA inspection at Schwan's Global Supply Chain Inc. resulted in dozens of citations against the frozen food manufacturer, along with Cimco Refrigeration Inc. and Adecco USA Inc., the companies who provide it with maintenance services and temporary employees.
Workers at an Ohio boiler manufacturer were required to operate press brakes and a horizontal boring machine that had the machine guarding removed, according to OSHA investigators, who issued two willful citations for the hazard.
OSHA charges company with creating a “dangerous work environment”
March 6, 2014
An OSHA inspection into an incident in which a worker’s arms being crushed while he was operating an unguarded machine uncovered information about two other incidents at the same facility; both of them involving severe injuries to employees while operating similar machinery.
LOTO lack, shock and tripping hazards found at facility
February 18, 2014
A 32-year-old worker at a wire mesh manufacturer died in August of last year because machine guarding had been disabled, according to an OSHA investigation. Florida-based Wire Mesh Sales LLC has been cited for dozens of safety violations and faces penalties of $697,700 in connection with the fatality.
Safeguard individuals for OSHA and ANSI compliance
February 5, 2014
Danray Products LLC offers 52" and 62" steel lathe chuck shields for lathes or similar machines. These heavy-duty 12-gauge steel lathe chuck shields serve two basic functions: (1) they provide a safeguard between individuals and point-of-operation or rotating hazards, and (2) they protect individuals from flying chips, sparks, coolant, lubricant, and other particles.
Ga. automotive manufacturer exposed workers to thermal burns, amputation
February 4, 2014
OSHA has cited HP Pelzer Automotive Systems Inc. of Thomson and staffing agency Sizemore Inc. for 22 safety and health violations following a July, 2013 initiated in response to a complaint alleging hazards at the automotive manufacturing facility. Proposed penalties total $207,100.
A Florida rehabilitation offering help to people struggling with drug addiction and alcoholism exposed its workers to a variety of hazards, according to an OSHA investigation.