For the third time in three years, an Elk Grove Village maker of metal home siding products ignored safety rules for machines. By doing so, the company put workers at risk of cuts, lacerations and amputations.
Acting on a complaint, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors identified one repeated and five serious safety violations at Rollex Corp.'s metal siding manufacturing plant in October 2014. The company faces $103,000 in proposed penalties.
"More than 200,000 workers are injured by machines in the United States annually. Employees pay the painful price when companies don't follow standards to reduce injuries," said Angeline Loftus, area director of OSHA's Chicago North Office in Des Plaines. "Rollex Corp. needs to act now to put required safety guards in place on large industrial machines that workers use to form and cut steel and aluminum."
Similar violations were found at Rollex Corp. in September 2011 and May 2012. Repeated violations are issued when the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order is found at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.
Workers were also found to be in danger of amputation because machines were not shut down properly before repair and maintenance. The machines were also operated without proper safety devices. A total of five serious safety violations were issued. An OSHA violation is serious if an employer knew or should have known of a deadly or serious hazard.
View the current citations at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/RollexCorporation_1003527_0416_15.pdf*
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 Chicago North 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.