Davis Tool & Die Cited After Worker Electrocuted, OSHA Isssues 17 Violations

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Davis Tool & Die for 17 safety violations after a maintenance worker was electrocuted March 6 here at the Fenton facility.

“Allowing maintenance workers to service energized equipment without taking required safety precautions and providing necessary personal protective equipment is inexcusable," Bill McDonald, OSHA’s St. Louis area director, said in a statement. "Davis Tool & Die has a responsibility to protect workers from known hazards at its manufacturing facility.

"No worker should risk his life for a job.”

The company was also issued a repeat safety violation. which involves failing to have point of operation guards on three CNC milling machines. OSHA said it issues repeat violations if an employer previously was cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.

The same violation was cited in January 2012 at Poplar Bluff Tool & Die, under the same ownership.

There were nine serious safety violations related directly to the electrocution, which occurred when the maintenance worker came in contact with exposed energized parts while examining malfunctioning electrical heating components on the heat treat oven.

1. Failing to evaluate the need for personal protective equipment and insulated tools and provide them as necessary
2. Modifying the oven wiring of heating elements from the manufacturer’s design
3. Lack of safety-related work practices and worker training in those concepts
4. Failing to de-energize parts and verify de-energization prior to maintenance
5. Failing to ensure worker qualifications for performed duties
6. Allowing conductive articles of jewelry or clothing to be worn near electrical components

Seven additional safety violations involve lack of machine guarding and an emergency eye washing station for workers exposed to corrosive materials, as well as procedures to control the use of hazardous energy.

The company also failed to install electrical equipment properly, periodically test electrical protective equipment and evaluate forklift truck drivers at least once every three years.

A serious violation means there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known, according to OSHA.

The company was fined $77,000, and has 15 business days to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call OSHA at 800-321-OSHA (6742), or the agency’s St. Louis office at (314) 425-4249.