A crane’s safety latch failed and 1,000 pounds of equipment fell on a man below and injured him as he worked at a TimkenSteel Corp. Ohio factory, according to federal safety officials.
For the second time in a year, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found struck-by, fall and amputation hazards at the company’s two Canton, Ohio, plants following inspections.
OSHA has proposed penalties of $393,500 against the company.
TimkenSteel’s Gambrinus plant was issued one willful, one repeated and two serious safety citations on Oct. 30 as a result of its investigation into the May 4, 2015, injury. The seven-year employee could not work for several months after the incident in which he fractured his left foot and broke several bones.
The injury occurred days after OSHA initiated an inspection at the company’s Harrison steel plant under the Primary Metals Emphasis Program. The agency issued eight repeated, eight serious and one other-than serious violation at the site.
TimkenSteel has been placed in the agency’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
OSHA’s investigations found workers were exposed to the following:
- Falls due to lack of guardrails, slippery surfaces and protective equipment.
- Live machinery operating parts during service and maintenance because locking devices, guards and other safety procedures were not used.
- Damaged equipment.
- Electrical hazards.
OSHA also found the company did not report injuries and illness, as required.
TimkenSteel was spun off from The Timken Company in 2014. Prior to this inspection, the three plants and corporate offices now operated by TimkenSteel had been inspected by OSHA 27 times since 2005, resulting in the issuance of 76 violations.
The manufacturer of large steel bars and seamless mechanical tubing was mostly recently cited by OSHA in November 2014. Its Harrison steel plant melts, rolls, produces and finishes steel, and its Gambrinus plant performs cold steel finishing.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director in Cleveland, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Source: OSHA
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