New Jersey aluminum company continues to expose employees to machine hazards – resulting in worker injuries, amputations

Employer name: Aluminum Shapes LLC
900 River Road
Pennsauken, New Jersey

Citations issued: On Sept. 23, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to Aluminum Shapes for one serious and two repeat violations.

Investigation findings:  OSHA’s inspection began on April 27, 2016, after the company reported a worker had suffered an amputation, and as part of the agency’s National Emphasis Program on Amputations.

Inspectors determined that an employee suffered a fingertip amputation while feeding aluminum pieces into a roll-forming machine. While OSHA’s inspection was ongoing, two additional incidents occurred; the first resulted in an employee’s thumb injury and the other resulted in a worker suffering a fingertip amputation.

OSHA issued repeat citations to the company for a lack of machine guarding, as well as for its failure to report the amputation within the required time frame. The agency cited the employer for the same violations in May 2012 and March 2016.

Quote:  “In 2015, our investigation found 44 safety violations at Aluminum Shapes’ facility including amputation hazards related to the lack of machine guarding. This employer has taken no action to protect its workers and serious and senseless injuries are the result. This is unacceptable,” said Paula Dixon-Roderick, director of OSHA’s Marlton Area Office. “Employers have a legal responsibility to provide employees with a safe and healthful work environment, and we intend to hold companies accountable when they fail to meet their obligations.”

Proposed penalties: $89,390

The citations can be viewed at: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/AluminumShapes_1143202.pdf

The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a 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 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 Marlton Area Office at 856-596-5200.

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.