As he hand-polished a 40-inch long metal cylinder, a 36-year-old lathe operator became entangled in the machine's operating spindle and suffered injuries that led to his death two days later.
An investigation into the incident by federal inspectors found his employer, Carlson Tool & Manufacturing Corp. allowed the computer numerical controlled lathe to operate with its safety interlocks bypassed. The interlocks prevent workers from coming in contact with moving machine parts.