Following the hospitalization of an aluminum extrusion worker, OSHA is again drawing attention to the dangers of the lack of safety protocols; machine guarding in particular.

An OSHA inspection of Crystal Finishing Systems Inc.’s aluminum extrusion facility in Weston, WI on Dec. 21, 2021, determined that a 6-foot chain-link safety guard was not affixed around the 8-inch extrusion press line to prevent workers from coming in contact with the puller.

Additionally, the press line was not locked out to prevent unintentional machine movement during service and maintenance, and the employer failed to train workers on machine safety procedures.

As a result, the worker was hospitalized with serious injuries after being struck by a puller machine while trying to unjam a piece of aluminum.

OSHA cited Crystal Finishing for one serious and two repeated violations and proposed penalties of $159,522.

The company was cited for similar machine safety violations eight times between 2012 and 2019.

According to OSHA, moving machine parts have the potential to cause severe workplace injuries, such as crushed fingers or hands, amputations, burns, or blindness.

Safeguards are essential for protecting workers from these preventable injuries. Any machine part, function, or process that may cause injury must be safeguarded.

When the operation of a machine or accidental contact injures the operator or others in the vicinity, the hazards must be eliminated or controlled.

Workers servicing or maintaining machines or equipment may be seriously injured or killed if hazardous energy is not properly controlled. Injuries resulting from the failure to control hazardous energy during maintenance activities can be serious or fatal.

Injuries may include electrocution, burns, crushing, cutting, lacerating, amputating, or fracturing body parts, and others.

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