OSHA fines Materion $70,000 after worker injured
STAFF REPORT 4:32 p.m. EDT July 15, 2016
ELMORE, OHIO - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed a $70,000 fine for Materion Brush Inc. after an employee operating a machine coiler suffered a hand injury at the Elmore plant in March.
OSHA cited a "willful" workplace safety violation for failing to ensure the machine had adequate safety guards.
In the March 3 accident, the employee's right hand got caught in a machine pinchpoint, resulting in three fingers being fractured.
"OSHA has specific guidelines to protect workers from dangerous machinery, chemicals and other hazards in the workplace," said Kim Nelson, OSHA's area director in Toledo. "Materion needs to re-evaluate its safety and health programs to ensure employees are being protected from job hazards."
Materion Brush "did not ensure the coiler on the edge trim line was properly guarded, exposing employees to an in-going nip point created between the rotating coil and the metal strip," OSHA said after investigating the accident.
Materion Brush, formerly known as Brush Wellman, is a subsidary of Materion Corp. of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, which makes advanced material solutions and services for industrial customers in 50 nations.
The fine was proposed Thursday and Materion Brush has 15 days to accept the fine or request a hearing with OSHA.