Chicago metal shop exposes workers to machine hazards

Employer name: Midwest Manufacturing and Distributing Inc., doing business as Midwest Metal Forming

Investigation site: 6025 N. Keystone Chicago, Illinois

Date investigation initiated and what prompted inspection: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Chicago North Area Office initiated a follow-up inspection of Midwest Metal Forming, March 4. The sheet metal manufacturer was cited in 2014 for exposing workers to amputation hazards from unguarded machinery and failed to provide OSHA with information detailing how the company had abated the safety hazards.

Investigation findings: OSHA issued one willful and two other-than- serious safety violations.

Investigators found the press brake lacked adequate machine guarding which protects workers from coming in contact with operating parts of the machine. Lack of appropriate machine guarding can cause lacerations, bruises, and amputations.

Two other-than- serious violations were issued to the company for not using electrical equipment in accordance with labeling and failing to post the annual injury and illness summary.

Quote: "Midwest Metal Forming has failed in its responsibility to protect workers from dangerous operating parts of machinery," said Angeline Loftus, OSHA's Area Director for the Chicago North Office in Des Plaines. "Each year thousands of workers are injured by such hazards."

Proposed Penalties: $54,780

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint or report amputations, losses of an eye, 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 agency's Chicago North Area Office in Des Plaines at 847-803-4800.