OSHA Fines Gateway Extrusions for Exposing Workers to Amputation Hazards
OSHA has proposed fines of $63K for 1 repeated and 8 serious violations
OSHA announced an enforcement case against Gateway Extrusions Ltd., saying its workers were exposed to amputation and other serious hazards while operating presses at the company's aluminum parts manufacturing facility in Union, Mo. OSHA has cited the company with one repeat and eight serious safety and health violations.
"Lack of worker protections at this facility exposed workers to serious and life-altering injuries," said Bill McDonald, OSHA's area director in St. Louis. "Gateway Extrusions has a responsibility to protect workers from known hazards at its job site, and the number of violations there demonstrates a lack of commitment to that obligation."
An inspection found that two operating machines lacked proper safety mechanisms, which exposed workers to amputation and other serious hazards. The company was cited for a similar violation in 2013, according to OSHA.
Workers were also exposed to unguarded platforms and floor openings, electrical hazards and unsecured shelving and storage units. The company also failed to store gas cylinders properly, did not implement lockout/tagout procedures and inadequately guarded the point-of-operation of some operating machines, such as press brakes, the release states.