April 16, 2024

US Department of Labor finds employee fatally injured after manufacturer failed to protect her from caught-between, struck-by hazards

Faurecia Emissions Control Systems faces more than $300K in proposed penalties

FRANKLIN, OH ‒ An Ohio subsidiary of one of the world's largest automotive suppliers could have prevented a 26-year-old employee in Franklin from being fatally crushed in October 2023 if the company had provided proper machine guarding.

Investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration responded after being informed of the incident by Faurecia Emissions Control Systems NA LLC, one of 29 facilities operated by Faurecia North America to manufacture components in the U.S. OSHA learned the worker, on the job for about a year, was placing cardboard under a machine that bends vehicle exhaust pipes when the incident happened.

OSHA issued 10 instance-by-instance citations after finding the company did not properly train employees — including temporary workers under Faurecia's control — in lockout/tagout procedures. OSHA also issued a machine guarding violation. Investigators determined the employer failed to include detailed steps for lockout/tagout procedures, test its safety procedures annually and guard machines adequately. Based on these alleged violations, Faurecia exposed machine operators to struck-by and caught-between hazards.

In 2022, the agency cited the company for similar violations at the same location. The company faces $314,555 in proposed OSHA penalties for its recent infractions.

"Faurecia Emissions Control Systems could have prevented this tragedy by having proper machine guarding that would have protected employees from contact with moving machine parts," said OSHA Area Director Ken Montgomery in Cincinnati. "Safety requirements are just that, required. This company failed in its legal responsibility to ensure workers were protected from workplace hazards."

Since 2019, OSHA has opened nearly 1,700 Ohio inspections related to machine hazards. "Safety must never be an afterthought, Montgomery added. "Safety has to be a core company value, especially in the manufacturing industry."

Faurecia Emissions Control Systems NA LLC is part of Faurecia North America based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. In 2022, Faurecia and Hella combined to form Forvia, one of the world's top 10 largest automotive suppliers with more than 150,000 workers in more than 40 countries.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Learn more about OSHA, lockout/tagout procedures and the National Emphasis Program on Amputation Hazards.

Media Contacts:

Scott Allen, 312-353-4727, allen.scott@dol.gov
Rhonda Burke, 312-353-4807, burke.rhonda@dol.gov

Release Number: 24-664-CHI