Metal Stamping Manufacturer Exposed Employees to Amputation Dangers Leading to a Worker Suffering a Severe Injury
A federal inspection of D&D Manufacturing Inc. in El Paso, TX leads to a $412,750 fine.
- By Shereen Hashem
- Jul 21, 2021
An El Paso worker suffered an amputation of two fingers inside a 500-ton hydraulic press. The employee was working at a metal stamping manufacturer with a workplace history of safety violations that did not protect workers from dangerous moving machine parts. The hazard was never addressed. OSHA inspected D&D Manufacturing Inc. in January 2021, the company was cited for two willful, 12 serious and three other-than-serious violations. According to a press release, OSHA proposed penalties totaling $412,750.
“The willful and serious violations identified in this inspection show D&D Manufacturing Inc. continues to ignore required worker safety protections. Moving machine parts have the potential to cause severe injuries when they are not properly guarded and safety procedures are absent,” said OSHA Area Director Diego Alvarado, Jr. in El Paso, Texas.
After investigating, OSHA found the company failed to use required machine guards to prevent workers from coming into contact with operating parts, did not conduct regular inspections which resulted in machine malfunctions and failed to ensure that each affected employee used the appropriate PPE. Previous inspections at D&D identified significant safety and health concerns. In 2014, OSHA cited the plant for 34 serious and other-than-serious violations.
The company was cited twice in 2015 for a total of four willful, six serious and three other-than-serious violations.
The company has 15 days from receipt of its citations and penalties issued to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before OSHRC.
About the Author
Shereen Hashem is the Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety magazine.