Worker Fatally Injured in Box-Making Machine, Firm Fined $130,300
"This case starkly shows the grave consequences from unguarded moving machine parts," said Mary Hoye, OSHA's area director for central and western Massachusetts.
OSHA has cited Horn Packaging Corp. for 12 alleged safety violations following the death of a worker at the Lancaster, Mass.-based packaging facility. The worker on Nov. 7, 2011, was fatally injured when he became entangled in an unguarded drive shaft that provided power to a box-making machine. Proposed penalties total $130,300.
A willful citation was issued for a violation involving the unguarded shaft, which lacked proper protection to prevent workers from being exposed to its moving parts.
"This case starkly shows the grave consequences from unguarded moving machine parts," said Mary Hoye, OSHA's area director for central and western Massachusetts. "Proper safeguards could have prevented the needless and tragic loss of a worker's life."
Additionally, 11 serious violations involve a failure to prevent other machine guarding hazards, develop and implement a written chemical hazard communication program, provide worker training, cover electrical junction boxes, and address several deficiencies in the hazardous energy control program, which is designed to prevent machinery from unintentionally starting up during maintenance.