October 5, 2021US Department of Labor proposes $136K in fines after workerat Tootsie Roll manufacturing plant suffers amputation injuryCompany cited for one willful safety violation for failing to ensure proper machine guards

CHICAGO – A 48-year-old worker for Tootsie Roll Industries LLC suffered a partial finger amputation after their employer allowed bypassed safety locks on a machine’s access doors that enabled a bag sealer to close on an employee’s finger.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection of the April 19, 2021, incident found that the worker reached into an unguarded machine to remove stuck paper debris when the bag seal’s jaws closed.

OSHA issued one willful violation for inadequate machine guarding and proposed $136,532 in penalties.

“Hundreds of workers are injured needlessly each year because employers ignore safety guards, often to speed up production, and that’s exactly what happened in this case,” said OSHA Chicago South Area Director James Martineck in Tinley Park. “Employers must never put profits before people. When they do and fail to meet their obligations to keep workers safe, we will take action to hold them accountable.”

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Learn more about OSHA.

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Media Contacts:

Scott Allen, 312-353-4727, allen.scott@dol.gov
Rhonda Burke, 312-353-4807, burke.rhonda@dol.gov

Release Number: 21-1752-CHI

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The department’s Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay).

October 5, 2021US Department of Labor cites Valmont Coatings for exposing workersto crushing, other safety hazards after investigation into employee’s deathOSHA finds one willful and five serious violations; proposes $202K in penalties

CLAREMORE, OK – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration following the death of a 19-year-old worker at a Valmont Coatings’ facility in Claremore found the company failed to use proper rigging equipment and perform inspections and maintenance on cranes. The worker was attaching multiple small steel I-beams to a large lifting fixture when the entire assembly fell on him.

OSHA also determined the company – doing business locally as Oklahoma Galvanizing – exposed workers to slip and trip hazards near hot-dip tanks and failed to provide required emergency showers and eyewash stations.

OSHA cited Valmont for one willful and five serious violations and proposed $202,000 in penalties.

“Equipment used to lift or move heavy parts must be inspected regularly and kept in good condition or removed from service to avoid worker injuries or fatalities,” said OSHA Area Director Steven Kirby in Oklahoma City. “This employer’s failure to do so cost a young worker his life.”

Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Valmont Coatings is a leading provider of hot-dip galvanizing and applied coating services with 35 facilities in seven countries. It is a subsidiary of Valmont Industries Inc., which does business in more than 23 countries and operates 80 manufacturing facilities to produce engineered support structures, coatings, irrigation and utility support structures.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Learn more about OSHA.

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Media Contacts:

Chauntra Rideaux, 972-850-4710, rideaux.chauntra.d@dol.gov
Juan J. Rodríguez, 972-850-4709, rodriguez.juan@dol.gov

Release Number:  21-1798-DAL

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The department’s Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests, please contact the department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (federal relay).