OSHA has fined a suburban St. Louis recycling company $195,930 in connection with the death of a worker who had been trying to clear a jam in a baler machine.
The worker, Mario Montoya, 43, was found inside a baler machine at Resource Management’s plant by a co-worker.
OSHA’s investigation uncovered 37 safety and health violations, including one repeat safety violation relating to defective powered industrial trucks that were not taken out of service.
There were also 30 serious safety and health violations, including:
- failing to lock out and tag out the energy sources of equipment
- not installing adequate machine guards
- fall hazards
- inadequate housekeeping
- excessive noise
- improper personal protective equipment, and
- blood borne pathogen hazards.
OSHA also issued six other-than-serious safety and health violations.
The company has 15 business days to decide whether it wants to appeal the fines. The company’s senior vice president says officials plan to discuss the findings with OSHA.
Resource Management’s facility sorts and separates recycled materials for bulk sale.
