Ohio Vehicle Parts Manufacturer Fined $1.67 Million Over Workplace Safety Negligence

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration carried out a detailed investigation about workplace safety negligence in an aluminum parts manufacturer in Ohio. The General Aluminum Mfg. Company had a history of violations with regards to workplace safety, and this time, things took a turn for the worse when a 43-year old worker lost his life due to an unsafe working environment.

Following the death of their employee, the company was scrutinized for workplace safety negligence and the deliberate endangering of workers, and the OSHA investigation revealed a total of 38 violations of health and safety. This ultimately led the department to suggest a heavy fine of $1,671,738 as a penalty for what was a hostile work environment stemming not merely from negligence but a sheer lack of respect for the worker’s safety.

The officials noticed that, in violation of basic safety protocols, the company allowed its workers to work unprotected by a guarding mechanism meant to safeguard the employees from the doors shutting on them. The accident that killed the worker involved a malfunction in the control of the door which then led to a fatal accident, culminating in the death of the employee. The facility also lacked lockouts and tagouts to protect the workers.

It is important to note that there was ample evidence to suggest that not only did the company know of the risks, but it also had the opportunity to fix things. On top of this, there were no safety management protocols whatsoever, and the workers were not equipped with adequate protective gear. There was no safety training for the employees either, and OSHA cited 16 serious violations, 18 willful ones, and four repeat violations.

Such unsafe environments can lead to hazardous accidents, and if that ever happens to you, consult an Ohio workers’ compensation lawyer to get reimbursed for your damages.

Source: https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/region5/09272021