Following the crushing of a worker's hand in a 150-ton mechanical power press on Nov. 14, 2013, Superior Roll Forming Co. has been cited by OSHA for four serious safety violations. OSHA's complaint investigation at the company's Valley City facility found two repeat violations of machine guarding and lockout/tagout procedures, two of the most frequently cited OSHA standards. OSHA proposes $89,500 in penalties for failing to protect workers from lacerations, caught-in and amputation hazards.

"Superior Roll Forming continuously fails to protect workers operating power presses. This is completely inexcusable," said Howard Eberts, OSHA's area director in Cleveland. "Safety precautions are vital when operating power presses because injuries involving this machinery and equipment often result in death or permanent disability, as it tragically did in this incident."

The repeat violations involved the plant's power presses, which assemble metal or other materials for the automotive and other industries. The injured worker was removing a metal piece from the power press and was exposed to the point of operation of the power press because necessary safeguards had been disabled and the company had failed to install barrier guards. The company also failed to use lockout/tagout procedures to prevent operation of the power press while the worker was removing the part.

Superior Roll Forming was previously cited for machine guarding and lockout/tagout violations on its power presses in 2013. 

 Two serious violations also involved safe operation of mechanical power presses, including inadequate clutch brake controls and failing to conduct periodic inspections of lockout/tagout procedures.