June 29--A Melrose Park metal shop faces federal fines of nearly $55,000 for "exposing workers to amputation hazards."
The U.S. Occupational Safety Health Administration said it cited Midwest Manufacturing Distributing, which does business as Midwest Metal Forming, for three safety violations.
OSHA, a unit of the U.S. Department of Labor, said the sheet-metal maker was cited last year for "exposing workers to amputation hazards from unguarded machinery." OSHA said Midwest Metal also failed "to provide OSHA with information detailing how the company had abated the safety hazards."
OSHA conducted a follow-up inspection of Midwest Metal on March 4. On Monday, OSHA said it issued one "willful" and two "other-than-serious" safety violations.
"Investigators found the press brake lacked adequate machine guarding which protects workers from coming in contact with operating parts of the machine," OSHA said. "Lack of appropriate machine guarding can cause lacerations, bruises, and amputations."
The two other-than-serious violations were issued to Midwest Metal for not using electrical equipment in accordance with labeling and for failing to post the annual injury and illness summary.
"Midwest Metal Forming has failed in its responsibility to protect workers from dangerous operating parts of machinery," Angeline Loftus, OSHA area director, said in a statement. "Each year thousands of workers are injured by such hazards."
The proposed penalties are $54,780.
The company declined to comment.
byerak@tribpub.com
