Sifco fails to protect workers from molten metal, dangerous machinery

CLEVELAND — Workers were at risk while using steam hammers and hot metal power presses to forge metal at Sifco Industries Inc. U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found these and other hazards during a November 2014 inspection of the Cleveland-based forging plant.

Inspectors determined that employees faced debilitating injuries because machines with dangerous moving parts lacked proper safety mechanisms, and hazardous flying particles and molten metal were risks to workers.

Each year, more than 3 million U.S. employees suffer injuries at work that could have been prevented if their companies followed safety requirements.

"OSHA found multiple serious violations in this industrial setting," said Howard Eberts, OSHA's area director in Cleveland. "Sifco Industries needs to make immediate improvements to its safety procedures."

Sifco, a global manufacturer for the aerospace and energy industries, faces penalties of $118,400 for one willful and nine serious safety violations, as follows:

• Failing to conduct annual inspections and testing procedures to keep machines from starting unintentionally, which was a willful violation.
• Not installing safety guards on presses and developing specific procedures for machines to keep them from starting unintentionally during service and maintenance. These include attaching locking devices when workers change mechanical parts.

View the current citations at https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/SifcoIndustriesInc_1010588_0519_15.pdf.

Sifco Industries was previously cited for similar hazards in 2011 at its Cleveland facility.

The company 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.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the Cleveland Area Office at 847-803-4800.

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.