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Anchor Hocking Co. in Lancaster, Ohio is facing $74,600 in fines after one of its workers suffered severe burns. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) initiated an inspection on January 25 after the clothes of machine operator at Anchor Hocking, which is the operating name of EveryWare Global Inc., caught on fire after being saturated with oil mist, resulting in the worker suffering severe burns.
According to an OSHA news release, Anchor Hocking was issued nine safety violations after the incident, including one repeat violation and eight serious violations. The repeat violation was for using flexible cords in place of permanent wiring for a shop light, which is a violation that this same facility was cited for in 2012. The eight serious violations included:
Failing to turn off machines while servicing equipment
Failing to assess personal protective equipment to prevent workers from being saturated with flammable oil mist while operating glass forging machines
Failing to require the use of lockout/tagout procedures and train workers on such procedures
“Employers, such as Anchor Hocking, have a responsibility to assess the hazards in their manufacturing processes,” said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA area director in Columbus. “They need to ensure workers use personal protective equipment and use common-sense safety measures to prevent injury. The investigation found that several workers had suffered injuries due to a lack of safety procedures.”
It is unacceptable for an employer not to prepare its workers to safely navigate the work environment it provides them. A company should do everything possible to ensure that its employees are safe at work and free to do their jobs without fear of injury or death. However, many employers are just not willing to take that responsibility seriously, and as a result, many workers lives are unnecessarily put in harm’s way on a daily basis.
For over eight decades, our Columbus workers’ comp lawyers have been successfully helping injured workers with their workers’ comp and Social Security disability claims. There is information about how we can help you if you suspect your employer is violating your rights if you read our website. You can also contact our firm today at (614) 221-7548 for more information or to schedule a free consultation.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus Workers Comp Attorneys