Workplace Safety Archives - Martin Technical

Inadequate Machine Guarding Leads to Fatality

CANTON, OH– TimkenSteel, a steel manufacturer, was cited with inadequate machine guarding following a fatality of an employee in Canton, OH. The failure to install guards or provide proper hand tools to employees, led to entanglement hazards while operating a bar straightener machine.

Founded in 1917 as the steel business of The Timken Roller Bearing Company, the parent company to TimkenSteel, is a leading producer of carbon steel, alloy and micro-alloy steel in specialty bars, mechanical tubing, and other products used in the automotive, industrial, and energy markets. The company employs 1,800 workers.

Violations and Citations

During the investigation, OSHA determined the worker was operating the machine when he was entangled on a piece of steel bar stock that was rotating at high speeds. The entanglement of the employee with the steel bar stock ultimately led to fatal injuries. Upon further investigation, inspectors found the safety equipment provided to employees to manipulate the steel on the machines was not in compliance with the machine requirements. And because proper equipment and safety procedures were not in place, the employee’s limbs became exposed to the danger zones of the steel rotating machine.

OSHA cited the steel manufacturer with two willful and two serious citations, which resulted in over $315K in penalties. The serious violations were cited due to lack of guarding on horizontal drive shafts and knuckles, and walking-working surfaces that exposed workers to slip and fall hazards from oil coolant leaks and spills.

“A worker’s life might have been spared if Timken Steel safeguarded dangerous machinery as required by law,” said OSHA Area Director Howard Eberts in Cleveland. “This company identified the safety issue that exposed workers using this machine to serious hazards but failed to make it safe.”

Key Takeaways

OSHA sources state that workers who operate and maintain machinery suffer approximately 18,000 amputations, lacerations, crushing injuries, abrasions, and over 800 deaths per year.

Until there are no more workplace fatalities, it is critical companies remain vigilant with their safety procedures. If machine guarding procedures were in place, this workplace fatality could have been prevented. Martin Technical offers machine guarding safety training and program development along with other pertinent safety trainings to ensure the highest level of workplace safety. Find out how Martin Technical can ensure every employee makes it home safely at the end of the day.

Read from the original source here: https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/region5/06222022

Resources:

https://martechnical.com/mechanical-machine/

https://martechnical.com/training-and-seminars/

https://martechnical.com/safety-and-osha-training/

https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs

https://www.osha.gov/machine-guarding

June 30, 2022

Martin Technical to Speak at ASSP Safety 2022 Conference June 27-29, 2022 in Chicago, IL.

LOUISVILLE, CO- June 16, 2022

Martin Technical, Inc., a leading subject matter expert in providing industrial plants and facilities with simplified safety solutions and consulting services, will be exhibiting at the ASSP Safety 2022 Conference June 27-29, 2022, in Chicago, IL. Industry experts will be present to educate facility professionals on how Martin Technical can make hazardous situations safer by applying solutions for training, electrical maintenance, inspections, lockout tagout, confined space, and OSHA services.

Martin Technical will be highlighting the latest, most comprehensive, and practical safety training offerings including blended learning training, virtual reality training, and strategies to guide organizations in building the most robust training program.

Martin Technical will have members of their team presenting on numerous topics including confined space virtual reality presentation, on-site safety compliance training program, and arc flash engineering program. These topics will be presented during ASSP’s safety flash session showcase on Wednesday June, 28^th between 9 A.M. and 2 P.M.

Martin Technical is encouraging workplace safety professionals to visit Martin Technical at booth #1738 during the conference.

Contact the team at Martin Technical for more information:

+1 866-234-6890

https://MartinTechnical.com/

Sales@MarTechnical.com

June 16, 2022

Workplace Safety Comments are closed admin

June is National Safety Month

The month of June is National Safety Month, an event focused on bringing awareness to safety concerns in the workplace. Martin Technical, a member of the National Safety Council, wants to recognize National Safety Month and its significance. With such a high fatality rate in 2020 in the United States, with 4,764 fatal work injuries recorded (a 10.7% decrease from 5,333 in 2019), it is important to draw attention to this national topic. While this number is decreasing, National Safety Month is an event tailored around the continuation of the fatal work injury rate.

Top OSHA Safety Concerns

The list of top 10 most frequently cited standards following inspections of worksites by federal OSHA for all industries is released publicly every year to attract attention to safety concerns in the workplace that are often overlooked. With better knowledge and understanding of safety hazards that are often missed, companies can better prepare their workplace.

Fall Protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501) [related safety resources]
Respiratory Protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134) [related safety resources]
Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053) [related safety resources]
Hazard Communication, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200) [related safety resources]
Scaffolding, construction (29 CFR 1926.451) [related safety resources]
Fall Protection Training, construction (29 CFR 1926.503) [related safety resources]
Control of Hazardous Energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147) [related safety resources]
Eye and Face Protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.102) [related safety resources]
Powered Industrial Trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178) [related safety resources]
Machinery and Machine Guarding, general industry (29 CFR 1910.212) [related safety resources]

Additional to their top safety citations OSHA has also released information on their “Fatal Four” leading causes of fatalities in the workplace.

Falls- 36% of workplace fatalities
Struck by Objects- 10% of workplace fatalities
Electrocutions- 9% of workplace fatalities
Caught in Between- 2% of workplace fatalities

How can you address Safety Concerns?

With proper safety training in place the risk of workplace fatalities decreases. All industries should focus on building and maintaining robust training programs for fall protection, lockout tagout, machine guarding, and arc flash, which help to provide education on the fatal four in the workplace. Martin Technical, a leading safety solutions company providing services and implementation solutions, has in-house subject matter experts whose mission is to help companies build their own customized and efficient training programs. Working with industry experts can boost your safety program, build or strengthen safety cultures, and combat the fatal four workplace concerns.

The Importance of National Safety Month

National Safety Month is a national movement with the goal of bringing awareness to safety in the workplace, ensuring every individual makes it home safe after each day, to enjoy the best part of their day. Join the cause and continue to help spread awareness today.

Resources

Martin Technical Inc.

Martin Technical Safety Trainings

National Safety Council

OSHA Top Ten Citations

OSHA Safety Regulations

June 16, 2022

Electrical Safety & Arc Flash Fall Safety Machine Safety Training Workplace Safety Comments are closed admin

Absence of Fall protection Results in an OSHA Investigation

Philadelphia, PA– The absence of fall protection resulted in an OSHA investigation for a construction contractor in Philadelphia, PA. The construction contractor underwent six OSHA investigations, between October 2021- December 2022, at their five separate locations. These investigations are a part of OSHA’s local emphasis program for fall hazards.

According to OSHA resources, “Falls from elevation are a leading cause of death for construction employees. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports falls accounted for 351 of the 1,008 construction fatalities recorded in 2020…”

Violations and Citations:

The inspections of the construction company led to violations on all five of their construction sites. It was disclosed that the company did not provide fall protection on any site. Additionally, the employees were also exposed to damaged or unsafe equipment, such as damaged ladders, electrical hazards, and no personal protective equipment (PPE).

The investigation concluded with the construction company being cited with seven willful violations and eleven safety violations. These citations led to $790K in penalties.

“OSHA inspectors found All Best Contractor Corp.’s foreman on site, and yet he allowed employees to work while knowing that they lacked fall and other safety protections. Such blatant disregard for the safety and well-being of the company’s workers shows a willful recklessness,” said OSHA Area Director Paula Dixon-Roderick in Marlton, New Jersey. “The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration will make every effort to hold employers accountable when they put workers at increased risk of serious injuries or worse.”

Key Takeaways

Safety should be a priority for all companies and lives of employees should never be put at risk. With the right fall prevention and protection measures in place, companies in any industry can ensure they will not face the same penalties and can make certain they are putting the lives of their employees first. Working with outsourced safety experts such as Martin Technical can help ensure your company has the necessary fall protection procedures in place.

Read from the original source: https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/brief/05022022

Resources:

https://martechnical.com/fall-protection-training/

https://martechnical.com/safety-and-osha-training/

https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/directives/2019-01.pdf

June 9, 2022

Fall Safety OSHA Violations Training Workplace Safety Comments are closed admin

Martin Technical Welcomes Wayne Branom as the Regional Manager of the Central/Northeast Region

Louisville, CO – June 3, 2022

Martin Technical would like to welcome Wayne Branom to the sales team as our Regional Manager for the Great Lakes & Northeast Region. Wayne has spent over 35 years in the safety vertical, with Orr Safety/NSI as a Senior Account Manager for the Central Region. He resides in Aurora, Illinois with his family.

“Wayne is a well-respected performer and subject matter expert in industrial safety and will provide a level of expertise we are blessed to have on our team.” states Gil Truesdale CRO of Martin Technical.

Wayne will manage the Great Lakes and Northeast Region’s driving opportunities for electrical safety, lockout tagout, safety compliance training, and safety management software solutions through Safety Hive.

To contact Wayne Branom, please email WayneB@MarTechnical.com or call +1 (630) 991-0170.

About Martin Technical / Safety Hive

Martin Technical is a leading safety solutions company providing services and implementation solutions for Lockout Tagout, Electrical Safety, Electrical Engineering, Audits & Inspections, Training, OSHA Services, and consulting. Safety Hive, a safety software and technology provider, digitizes and automates safety to predict and prevent workplace safety incidents by empowering the workforce through technology.

To learn more, please visit www.MarTechnical.com, www.SafetyHive.com, call 866-234-6890, or email info@MarTechnical.com.

June 3, 2022

Electrical Safety & Arc Flash Machine Safety Training Workplace Safety Comments are closed admin

Martin Technical Inspires Pulp & Paper Safety Association with Digital Solutions

BROOMFIELD, CO – May 31,2022

Martin Technical, Inc., a leading subject matter expert in providing industrial plants and facilities with simplified safety solutions and consulting services, will participate as a member exhibitor at the 2022 PPSA conference in Ponte Vedra, FL June 12-15th. Martin Technical located, in Broomfield, Colorado, will showcase the highly sought-after digital workplace safety solutions with software provider Safety Hive, to empower facility management professionals, and their employees, to stay at the forefront of an evolving and challenging world using technology.

As the workforce becomes increasingly distributed and mobile, Safety Hive equips workers with quick access to workplace safety services, educates them on their tasks, and reduces errors, incidents, inspection and audit times, and overall facility downtime. Martin Technical subject matter experts along with Safety Hive’s software solutions will now be able to offer their clients a full circle, turnkey solution all under one roof enhancing their mission of making the complex simple. This will enable facilities to improve their safety culture, operational efficiency, facility management forecasting, and help motivate workers to make their workplace safer and more productive.

“Innovation is at the core of the success of Martin Technical and Safety Hive and has been the driving force for our successes over the past 20 years. Consistently pushing the limits of what we do, how we do it and what we can do to help support our customers in their day-to-day world to keep workers safe and institutions in compliance. Safety Hive is the next big thing from Martin Technical and it is set to “change the game” on how data, compliance, process, procedure and most importantly, worker safety, come together in a single platform. This will become the Standard for Safety Management Systems in the US and around the world.” says Chief Operating Officer, Donny Snyder.

Martin Technical and Safety Hive will be located at booth #40 and is inviting all workplace safety professionals to stop by and learn more about the most innovative services in the industry.

About Martin Technical

Martin Technical is a leading provider of practical safety and efficiency services that make industrial plants and facilities better, safer, and more efficient. Our experts can help simplify the complex by applying real-world solutions for lockout tagout, arc flash, electrical safety, risk assessments, OSHA services, training, machine safety, and safety consulting.

About Safety Hive

Safety Hive is a Safety Technology Solution and Software Provider that digitizes and automates safety to predict and prevent workplace safety incidents through technology and data.

To learn more, please visit https://martechnical.com/, https://safetyhive.com/, call +1 866-234-6890, or email Sales@MarTechnical.com.

To request Press Kits, please email Marketing@MarTechnical.com.

June 1, 2022

Confined Space Electrical Safety & Arc Flash Lockout Tagout & Hazardous Energy Machine Safety Workplace Safety Comments are closed admin

Steps to Safety: OSHA Compliance

St. Louis, MI– Steel manufacturer St. Louis Cold Drawn LLC, has taken steps to creating a safer work environment with an initiative they started in 2016, in conjunction with Missouri OSHA, to develop improved safety awareness programs and to prevent on the job injuries. With nearly 4% of all cold steel workers suffering recordable injuries each year, this steel company strives to make a change.

The Initiative

The initiative is broken down into three separate aspects, all to improve workplace safety.

A revised program to address hazards
A revised program to ensure routine training
Preventative measures to keep workers safe

The initiative started with 14 different safety and health visits, where consultants identify hazards, dangers, and violations. The consultants then worked with the company to implement new safety measures. Specific improvements that were made include:

Machine guarding
Adjusted warehouse layout
Safety training
Improved communication strategies

“The Missouri On-Site Consultation Program helped St. Louis Cold Drawn understand that OSHA works cooperatively with businesses who voluntarily implement programs to ensure the workers’ safety and health,” said U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Acting Regional Administrator Steven J. Kaplan in Kansas City, Missouri. “St. Louis Cold Drawn made major improvements to its safety programs and did so with worker input. These efforts increased the ownership and involvement in safety at all levels of the company’s organization and significantly enhanced its safety culture.”

The Results

The company earned OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program, also known as SHARP status, in September 2020 and will seek renewal in 2022. SHARP acknowledges small and medium-sized businesses that have used OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Services and operate exemplary workplace safety and health programs.

OSHA standards can be difficult to meet without the right knowledge and guidance. Partnering with industry experts such as Martin Technical can help you take the right steps to improving your workplace safety and culture by providing proper consultation and services. Offering a range of services from safety training, lockout tagout, electrical safety, to arc flash, Martin Technical can help you maintain OSHA compliance and build your safety culture.

Additional Resources  

Safety Training

Lockout Tagout Program & Compliance

Arc Flash Programs

OSHA Laws and Regulations

OSHA SHARP Program 

May 27, 2022

Electrical Safety & Arc Flash Lockout Tagout & Hazardous Energy OSHA Violations Training Workplace Safety Comments are closed admin

Martin Technical Welcomes Eric Hallmark as the New Western Regional Manager

BROOMFIELD, CO – May 25, 2022

Martin Technical, Inc. is pleased to announce the hiring of Eric Hallmark as our Western Regional Manager. Eric lives in Clovis, California with his family, and originates from Southern California. Hallmark brings over 30 years of safety experience with QSSP certifications. With his latest position, acting as West Coast Manager for Stauffer Glove and Safety, Hallmark brings vast knowledge to his role with Martin Technical.

“Eric is a very solid addition to the Martin Technical team, with expertise in many areas that will drive our future growth.” states Gil Truesdale CRO of Martin Technical. 

In Hallmark’s role as Western Regional Manager, he will be responsible for managing the western states driving opportunities for electrical safety, lockout tagout, safety compliance training, and safety management software solutions through Safety Hive.

To contact Eric Hallmark, please email EricH@MarTechnical.com or call +1 (707) 333-3008.

About Martin Technical / Safety Hive

Martin Technical is a privately held safety solutions company whose mission is to improve workforce safety by providing reliable and trusted solutions by employees who care about the greater good. The team at Martin Technical are experts in providing practical safety and efficiency services that make plants and facilities better, safer and more efficient. Martin Technical safety services include lockout tagout, arc flash and electrical safety, electrical engineering, audits, inspections, consulting, and training. Safety Hive, a Martin Technical company, is a safety technology solution and software provider that digitizes and automates safety to help predict and prevent workplace safety incidents through technology and data.

To learn more, please visit www.MarTechnical.com, www.SafetyHive.com, call (866) 234-6890, or email info@MarTechnical.com.

May 25, 2022

Workplace Safety Comments are closed admin

Failure to Lockout leads to Fatality

Oklahoma City, OK– A large construction company, T.J. Campbell Construction Co., was cited with $370K in penalties after failing to prevent a conveyor system from being turned on. Failure to comply with lockout tagout requirements led to the fatality of an 18-year-old employee. The young employee was attempting to clear debris from the conveyor, when the machine was turned on and the employee was pulled into hot asphalt.

Based in Edmond, T.J. Campbell Construction, is a subsidiary of DUIT Holdings Inc. The company was founded in 1978 and is considered a premier asphalt and concrete paving contractor. Their specialty includes the turn-key construction of DOT Heavy Highway, street, and site infrastructure for commercial developments as well as complete construction and reconstruction services, from city streets to Interstate Highways.

Violations and Citations

After investigation, it was determined that T.J. Campbell Construction Co. did not lockout the conveyor system, which led to the fatality. In addition to not following proper lockout tagout procedures, the company did not have a lockout tagout policy in place and had not trained employees adequately on requirements for controlling hazardous energy.

Other violations found:

Permitting unguarded pulleys, and chain and sprockets on walking and working surfaces
Failure to apply lockout tagout on machinery
Safety violations due to missing handrails
Safety violations due to uncovered open holes on walking surfaces

“A young worker was barely three months on the job when his life was tragically cut short,” said OSHA Area Director Steven Kirby in Oklahoma City. “Had TJ Campbell Construction Company provided their workers with the required training on controlling hazardous energy and ensuring proper shutdown before any attempt to remove debris was made, this young man would have ended his workday safely.”

Key Takeaways

In brief, companies in any industry that do not emphasize the importance of safety and OSHA training, risk facing the same consequences as T.J. Campbell Construction Co. where the failure to lockout led to a fatality. Proper lockout tagout training and annual lockout tagout evaluations are required and necessary for reducing workplace accidents, fatalities, and avoiding fines and penalties.

Resources and Helpful Information on Lockout Tagout

Martin Technical Lockout Tagout Programs

OSHA General requirements for controlling hazardous energy

OSHA lockout fact sheet

May 20, 2022

Lockout Tagout & Hazardous Energy OSHA Violations Workplace Safety Comments are closed admin

Aluminum Manufacturer Cited for Machine Guarding Violations

Weston, WI – An aluminum manufacturer was cited for Machine Guarding violations by OSHA in Weston, Wisconsin for $159,522 for failure to establish safe machine guarding procedures and failure of training on lockout tagout procedures. The citations for machine guarding led to serious injuries and hospitalization of an employee after being struck by a puller, while the machine was trying to unjam a piece of aluminum.

The large statewide company focuses on aluminum extrusions, fabrication, coating services, plastics painting services, along with warehouse and freighting. The aluminum manufacturer is a multi-million-dollar company with over 600 employees across 4 locations throughout the state of Wisconsin.

Violations and Citations

The aluminum manufacturer has a history of investigations and violations with OSHA citing the company eight different times for safety violations, including past machine safety violations, between 2012-2019. OSHA investigators determined that safety guards were not utilized around an 8-inch extrusion press line, which is intended to prevent employees from direct contact with the puller. Lockout tagout procedures were not utilized preventing further danger to employees.

OSHA concluded the company could have prevented the accident if they had provided adequate lockout tagout safety training as well as installed proper machine safety guards. The investigation concluded the company failed to:

Apply 6 ft chain link safety guards around the 8-inch extrusion press line
Apply Lockout tagout procedures to the press line
Provide training on proper machine safety procedures

These violations of safety procedures resulted in three “serious” violations, totaling $159,522 in penalties.

“Machine guards are designed to protect workers from suffering serious injuries, but they are only effective when used properly,” said OSHA’s Area Director Robert Bonack in Appleton. “OSHA will hold this company and others accountable for failing to comply with safety and health regulations put in place to prevent worker injuries.”

Key Takeaways

In summary, companies must be cognizant of the repercussions of not using safety procedures required by OSHA. With proper safety training and lockout tagout practices, this situation could have been avoided and the release of hazardous energy could have been prevented. Proper safety training will help ensure safe work environments and can avoid on-the-job work injuries. Learn more about safety trainings and proper lockout tagout program compliance and procedures.