Firm exposed workers to multiple injuries and amputation

• OSHA found an Itasca, Illinois, manufacturer failed to guard industrial equipment, develop a lockout/tagout program, and train workers on machine safety procedures, exposing them to multiple injuries and amputation hazards.
• A July inspection at Walker Midwest LLC found workers operating numerous unguarded industrial machines — the lack of guarding exposed workers to the machines’ points of operation and danger zones during production.
• The inspection also identified employees engaged in maintenance and servicing activities on the machines without lockout/tagout procedures.
• OSHA cited the company for one willful and 13 serious violations involving required machine safety procedures and proposed $298,453 in penalties.
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Concerns over New York sprinkler system at bus depot

• The New York Department of Labor visited the MTA East New York Bus Depot at least twice amid continued complaints that the fire sprinkler system at the complex remains inoperable.
• The Brooklyn depot’s sprinkler system has been out of commission for more than two years, which has increased overtime costs for a round-the-clock fire watch required by fire codes and sparked safety concerns among NYC Transit employees.
• The visits by state regulators were sparked by at least one failed pressure test last week, in which the sprinkler system again failed to hold even half the water pressure required under federal occupational safety rules.
• The Department of Labor has cited the MTA numerous times over problems with the depot’s fire alarm control panels, several of which routinely display error codes.
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Contractor dies in North Carolina

• OSHA has opened an investigation after a contractor was killed in an accident at a business in Davidson, North Carolina.
• The work-related fatality happened at Trane Technologies located in the 800 block of Beaty Street in Davidson, Medic confirmed with Queen City News.
• The person was pronounced deceased at the scene by Medic on Friday.
• “We are actively responding to a tragic incident involving a contractor working onsite at our Davidson, North Carolina location. We are working with the pertinent authorities, and thank all first responders involved,” Trane Technologies said in a statement.
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Ohio worker dies at castings plant

• A worker at Ellwood Engineered Castings in Ohio died after a malfunction in some machinery led to molten steel being poured on him.
• Jawaylan Patterson died after he suffered fatal injuries related to the incident that happened at Ellwood Engineered Castings’ Hubbard Masury Road facility in Hubbard Township, Ohio.
• The malfunction caused molten steel to start spilling in the area where Patterson was working and he could not get out of the way quickly enough when another employee yelled for everyone to move.
• OSHA compliance officers were at the facility following the incident and interviewed employees, the employer, and any potential witnesses.
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