Aluminum Shapes LLC, a New Jersey aluminum company, was found to be exposing employees to machine hazards resulting in worker injuries and amputations.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued the company citations for one serious and two repeat violations. According to OSHA, the inspection began on April 27 after it was reported that a worker suffered an amputation.
Inspectors found that an employee suffered a fingertip amputation while feeding aluminum pieces into a roll-forming machine. Two additional incidents occurred while OSHA’s inspection was ongoing — in one case an employee had a thumb injury and in the other case a worker suffered a fingertip amputation.
Aluminum Shapes was issued repeat citations by OSHA for a lack of machine guarding as well as a failure to report the amputation within the required time frame. The company was cited 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. This employer has taken no action to protect its workers and serious and senseless injuries are the result. This is unacceptable," said Paula Dixon-Roderick, director of OSHA's Marlton Area Office. "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 LLC has 15 business days after receiving the 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. The proposed OSHA penalties are $89,390.