According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, diecaster Ohio Decorative Products has been cited for workplace safety violations. Penalties totaling $91,000 were issued to the Spencerville, OH, plant that produces zinc diecastings and a variety of other industrial products.
The company was allowed 15 days to comply with the ruling, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
OSHA conducted an inspection of Ohio Decorative Products in December 2009 following a report that a worker was “scalped” when his hair was caught in a machine’s unprotected rotating shaft. The inspection resulted in citations for one willful violation, one serious violation, and one repeat violation by the company, each one for failure to provide proper machine guarding.
OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with intentional knowledge or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health. Repeat violations are determined when OSHA finds a violation that is substantially similar to any previous violation at any other of an employer's facilities. A serous violation is one that may result in death or serious physical because of a hazard that an employer knew or should have known exists.
OSHA reported that 12 previous inspections at Ohio Decorative Products have resulted in 77 violations.
"Having proper machine guarding on equipment can prevent these needless injuries to workers," stated OSHA area director Jule Hovi. "Those who ignore safe practices and OSHA regulations are inviting tragedy into the lives of their employees, and OSHA will do all it legally can to ensure the company complies with the regulations."