It pays to listen to workers’ safety concerns. Otherwise, they may go straight to OSHA, which can result in an inspection and large fines. That’s what happened to this company.
OSHA inspected MCM Industries Co.’s Cleveland, Ohio, plant on March 27, 2014, after receiving a complaint.
It found workers were exposed to amputation hazards from improperly guarded mechanical power presses. MCM’s Cleveland plant manufactures coiled steel products and springs for the transportation, automotive and agricultural industries. The plant employs 28 workers.
“Power presses require a lot of operator involvement, which provides opportunities for serious injury and even death if extreme care and safety precautions are not in place,” said Howard Eberts, OSHA’s area director in Cleveland.
OSHA issued one willful and 17 serious safety and health violations to MCM for a total fine of $126,700. The willful violation was for the lack of required guards on the mechanical power presses.
Among the 17 serious violations were failure to:
- implement specific lockout/tagout procedures to prevent machinery from operating during maintenance
- perform periodic inspections of the mechanical power presses
- prevent worker exposure to slips and falls from unguarded floor openings
- provide eye protection
- conduct annual fire extinguisher training, and
- label hazardous chemical containers properly.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA or contest the findings to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
MCM also has a warehouse facility in Oak Forest, IL, that provides products for Toyota, General Motors, Honda, Chrysler and Deere.
