Federal workplace safety inspectors investigating the September 2022 electrocution of a 36-year-old worker at a paper mill in Maplesville, Alabama, found that his employer knowingly violated safety standards by failing to stop a machine while the man was replacing a conveyor belt.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Friday it cited South Coast Paper LLC for failing to de-energize machinery during maintenance, leading to the man’s death when he grabbed a live metal rail connected to the conveyor system.
The agency also issued South Coast Paper a repeat violation for allowing workers to perform maintenance on machinery without first being trained to ensure they possess the knowledge and skills to safely apply, use and remove hazardous energy controls.
Additionally, the agency cited South Coast Paper for a lack of machine guarding and for failing to provide clear access in front of a 480-volt breaker panel or to train employees in electrically safe work practices.
OSHA cited the company in June 2022 for failing to shut off power to machinery at its Burlington, New Jersey facility.
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