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Last month, a worker for Core Molding Technologies in the west area of Columbus was working in a press area when he fell into a hydraulic press and was fatally crushed. The 60-year-old suffered catastrophic injuries to his head and was pronounced dead at the scene. While the specifics of the accident are unknown, police reported that there was some sort of miscommunication that occurred just prior to the workplace accident.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is handling the investigation. Unfortunately, this is not Core Molding Technologies’ first run-in with OSHA. According to OSHA’s website, the company was issued three serious violations, including the following:
Failure to provide proper face and eye protection
Failure to provide proper hand protection
Failure to comply with OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standards (HCS)
Workplace Equipment Must Be Properly Maintained
Hydraulic presses are used as a sort of levering and lifting system for construction sites or manufacturing companies. They provide a powering force for the materials involved and are most often used to shape metals, car parts, plastic and fiber glass. More often than not, they are filled with hydraulic oil that moves to create pressure. When a system malfunctions, it is not uncommon for the fluid of the press to shoot outwards at workers. For this reason, employers must make sure they provide proper maintenance to the machine.
Moreover, the oil that the hydraulic press operates on can make the floor slippery if there are any leaks from the connecting hoses or if the oil is not handled properly. The hoses need to be regularly inspected. Additionally, employers must make sure to install barrier guards to protect workers from falling in, electronic safety devices and two-hand tripping devices to prevent hand injuries. According to OSHA, approximately 49 percent of injuries mechanical presses result in amputation. That said, employers, such as Core Molding Technologies need to do more to protect their workers.
Larrimer & Larrimer is an Ohio workers’ compensation law firm that fights for victims of workplace accidents in the Columbus, Shadyside, Portsmouth, Zanesville and Newark areas.