Continental Fabricators Inc. Cited for Exposing Workers to Amputation and Other Serious Hazards
The St. Louis-based steel fabricator faces penalties of $52,500
Continental Fabricators Inc. has been cited by OSHA for serious safety and health violations, according to a news release. The steel fabricating company has an injury rate higher than the national average and was issued 15 citations involving amputation, confined spaces and electrical hazards.
“Continental Fabricators demonstrates a company culture that does not put safety first. Workers should not be suffering fractures, sprains and muscular injuries on the job. These injuries are preventable by using personal protective equipment and following safety procedures,” said Bill McDonald, OSHA’s area director in St. Louis, in the release. “A high injury rate should be a wake-up call for any manufacturer to re-examine its safety procedures and training.”
An inspection by OSHA found several machines in the plant lacked emergency stop devices and adequate machine guarding, which exposed workers to amputation hazards. The company had inadequate lockout/tagout procedures to prevent unintentional operation of dangerous machinery during service and maintenance. Also, workers were not provided appropriate lockout/tagout devices or trained in their proper use.
Continental Fabricators failed to comply with permit-required confined space standards, including having an attendant present while another employee was inside a confined space to identify potential hazards and provide a means of rescue.