OSHA investigation finds 37 safety and health violations at Ridgway, Pennsylvania, metal company after worker suffers leg amputation

Employer name: Clarion Sintered Metals Inc.'s main manufacturing plant is located at 3472 Montmorenci Road in Ridgway, Pennsylvania. This was the inspected worksite, where the company designs, manufactures, machines, cleans and finishes metal parts.

Citations issued: On Nov. 3, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued Clarion 30 serious, including four general duty clause, citations, and seven other-than-serious citations.

Investigation findings: On May 12, 2015, OSHA initiated an investigation after Clarion Sintered Metals reported the hospitalization of an employee whose right leg was crushed while loading cardboard into a stationary trash compactor. The worker's leg was later amputated.

OSHA determined that the company failed to provide employees with access to emergency stop buttons while loading and unloading a stationary compactor, which directly contributed to the employee's leg injury and ultimate amputation. The employer also exposed workers to dangers including unprotected machinery, struck-by hazards, and use of uninspected and damaged equipment. The serious citations were issued for these violations.

The other-than-serious citations involved exit signs that were not illuminated and poor housekeeping.

Proposed penalties: $74,000

Quote: "Because Clarion Sintered Metals failed to take action to protect its employees and correct unsafe conditions at its plant, a worker needlessly suffered the loss of a limb. Through effective use of machine guarding and employer provided worker training on how to do the job safely, this incident could have been prevented," said Theresa A. Naim, OSHA's area director in Erie.

View the citation: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/ClarionSinteredMetalsInc_1065310_1062490.pdf.

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint; or report amputations, eye loss, 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 Erie Area Office at 814-874-5150.