OSHA fines Ohio auto parts plant for exposing workers to metal press hazards

CLEVELAND (Scrap Monster): Ohio-based Sunfield Inc. has been fined by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) authorities for exposing workers to metal press hazards. The authorities issued 57 citations for safety violations against the company observed during two inspections conducted at its Hebron site. OSHA has slapped a hefty penalty of $3.427 million, which turns out to be the highest fine imposed on auto parts facility until now.

In two separate incidents during January and February this year, two workers had suffered serious injuries, following which federal investigators had conducted thorough inspection of the site. The plant was issued 46 “egregious willful” citations, two willful, one repeated and eight serious safety violations during the inspection. According to the inspectors, majority of these violations resulted from lack of machine safety procedures which exposed workers to amputation, lacerations and other injuries.

On Jan 6th, a 22-year old temporary worker employed by a staffing agency suffered multiple lacerations and a fractured right elbow, when machine parts caught his arm while he was trying to remove scrap from a blanking press. Investigations found that the company supervisor had identified that the safety light curtains of the machine was not working properly, but failed to switch-off the equipment.

On Feb 18^th, a 58-year permanent employee of the company got his arms crushed while trying to remove scrap from a robotic press line. Inspections revealed that the company had not provided adequate safeguards to prevent employees from getting into touch with operating machine parts.

OSHA noted that the company had failed to address the above safety hazards. Consequently, Sunfield Inc. was placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program. The company failed to protect its employees from moving machine parts. The inspection also cited incidents of machines starting unintentionally when employees were involved in routine service and maintenance activities. The company also failed to provide adequate safety protection devices such as guards to employees in constant touch with moving machines.

This is not the first time the facility has been cited with serious safety violations. Over the past 20 years of operation, it has received 118 citations in total, including 90 serious, eight willful and five repeated violations for machine hazards.

Labor secretary Thomas E. Perez stated that the company has regularly failed to provide proper training to its workers in order to safely do the work for which they were hired to. He added that Sunfield Inc. is one among many companies that are found to prioritize production and profit over health and safety of employees. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels said the company has shown a total disregard for its workers.

Sunfield Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the Commission.

Meantime, Sunfield noted that it is currently reviewing the citations and is planning to appeal them.

Sunfield Inc. is a subsidiary of Ota-City, Gunma, Japan-based Ikeda Manufacturing Co. Ltd. The facility employs nearly 175 workers and is a supplier of auto parts to several domestic and Japanese automakers.