Region 5 News Release: 11-1044-CHI
July 18, 2011
Contact: Scott Allen Rhonda Burke
Phone: 312-353-6976 312-353-4807
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov burke.rhonda@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA cites Ohio-based West Troy Tool &
Machine for 11 safety violations after worker injured by power press

TROY, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited West Troy Tool & Machine Inc. in Troy for 11 serious safety citations after a worker suffered crushing injuries from a power press in May. The company faces penalties totaling $52,500.

"Employers have a responsibility to protect the health and safety of their workers, which includes having proper machine guards installed and following appropriate energy control procedures," said Barbara Marcum, OSHA's acting area director in Cincinnati. "These basic safeguards are critical to ensuring that workers are not exposed to unnecessary risks, and will prevent injuries like the one that occurred here."

Three violations involve not following lockout/tagout standards to isolate energy sources in order to prevent the unexpected energization of machinery. These include failure to provide locking or tagging equipment for use, isolate energy sources when servicing equipment and attach lockout devices during equipment servicing.

The other eight violations involve failing to have an energy control program, provide machine guarding on saw blades and pinch point equipment, provide supervision of power press operation, properly set up and maintain point-of-operation guards, operate presses in a proper safe mode, provide air pressure switches for clutches and counterbalance systems on presses, use hand tools to remove stuck work or scrap and conduct inspections of presses. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

West Troy Tool & Machine 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 independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA's Cincinnati Area Office at 513-841-4132. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call the agency's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.