The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently cited the Aluminum Shapes facility in Pennsauken, New Jersey, for one serious and two repeat violations with proposed penalties of $89,390.
OSHA's inspection began after the company reported a worker had suffered a fingertip amputation while feeding aluminum pieces into a roll-forming machine. While OSHA's inspection was ongoing, two additional incidents occurred; the first led to an employee's thumb injury, while the other resulted in a worker suffering a fingertip amputation.
OSHA issued repeat citations to the company for a lack of machine guarding as well as for its failure to report the amputation within the required time frame. The agency cited the employer for the same violations in May 2012 and March 2016.
"In 2015, our investigation found 44 safety violations at Aluminum Shapes' facility, including amputation hazards related to the lack of machine guarding," said Paula Dixon-Roderick, director of OSHA's Marlton Area Office. "This employer has taken no action to protect its workers, and serious and senseless injuries are the result. This is unacceptable. Employers have a legal responsibility to provide employees with a safe and healthful work environment, and we intend to hold companies accountable when they fail to meet their obligations."
Aluminum Shapes has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
For more information, visit www.osha.gov.