Hagel Metal Fabrication, Inc. has been cited by OSHA for safety and health violations after a 23-year-old worker and Iraq war veteran was fatally crushed earlier this year by an automated laser-cutting machine. During the investigation, workers made formal complaints, prompting two additional OSHA inspections at the East Peoria, Ill., metal manufacturing plant. Violations include failing to provide protective machine guarding, failing to lock out sources of hazardous machine energy, and failing to protect workers from fall hazards. Proposed penalties totaled $317,000.
“The company failed to implement the most basic of safety precautions – and the result was a terrible tragedy. This case demonstrates an egregious disregard of worker safety and health,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace.”
Read the news release for a complete list of citations.
Contact Ralph Carito at Total Environmental & Safety, LLC for more information.