Disabled machine guarding leads to worker fatality in Florida
LOTO lack, shock and tripping hazards found at facility
A 32-year-old worker at a wire mesh manufacturer died in August of last year because machine guarding had been disabled, according to an OSHA investigation. Florida-based Wire Mesh Sales LLC has been cited for dozens of safety violations and faces penalties of $697,700 in connection with the fatality.
The machine helper was struck and killed by a part that feeds the wire into the machine's welding area after he entered a large wire mesh manufacturing machine to retrieve a fallen metal bar. OSHA inspectors determined that the light curtain that would have automatically turned the machine off before he entered the danger zone had been disabled.