Worker’s Head Injury Leads to $90K Fine for Ohio Manufacturer

Ohio-based McNeil Group, doing business as Pinnacle Metal Products, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a worker suffered a serious head injury that resulted in blindness in one eye and the loss of 50 percent vision in the other. Proposed penalties total $90,090.

In June, the 42-year-old worker was on a scissors lift while painting steel ceiling beams when the lift caught his head between the beam and the lift’s guardrail. The worker did not receive adequate training on operating a scissors lift.

OSHA’s investigation cited 11 safety violations at the Columbus metal staircase manufacturing facility. One willful violation was cited for failing to provide adequate machine guarding and exposing workers to struck-by and amputation hazards.

A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirement, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.

Ten serious violations involve failing to train workers adequately in the operation of scissor lifts; mark load ratings on machinery and slings; provide a hazardous energy control program; inspect cranes periodically; require usage of helmets or hand shields during arc welding; and provide machine guarding on grinders and chop saws.

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The company was previously inspected by OSHA in 2011, resulting in two serious violations.

Pinnacle Metal Products has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.