July 01--A northern Illinois company is facing a $71,000 fine after a 32-year-old worker suffered serious injuries to his left arm when operating a machine that lacked safety devices, the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety Health Administration said Wednesday.
OSHA said Kemper Valve Fittings ignored basic machine safety rules at its plant in Island Lake and called one violation "willful." The incident occurred in March, when the machinist was using sandpaper to remove surface rust from a part of a computer-run machine. His hand was caught and pulled into rotating parts, breaking his bones. The worker underwent several surgeries and rehabilitation, OSHA said in a news release.
"Employees pay the painful price when companies don't follow safety standards," Angeline Loftus, area director of OSHA's office in Des Plaines, said in a statement. "Each year about 3 million workers in America are injured on-the-job, which affects their ability to provide for themselves and their families."
The company was also cited for failing to create an annual injury and illness summary for each of its locations. Kemper Valve Fittings has 15 business days from receipt of the citation to pay the fine, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the citation.
In a statement, Kemper said OSHA's investigation is ongoing and a hearing is scheduled for later this month. "Kemper's owners and management deeply regret the injury to our employee and are working closely with the family to support their needs," it said.
acancino@tribpub.com
