An OSHA investigation has determined that Faurecia Emissions Control Systems NA LLC could have prevented a 26-year-old employee from dying if the company had installed machine guarding. The incident occurred in October 2023 when the worker was placing cardboard under a machine that bends vehicle exhaust pipes and was crushed to death.
The company, which Is owned by Faurecia North America, a large automotive supplier, faces 10 instance-by-instance citations. These citations include failing to train employees on lockout/tagout processes, not having proper machine guarding, and exposing machine operators to struck-by and caught-between hazards. The company was cited for similar violations in 2022. Faurecia Emissions Control Systems faces $314,555 in proposed penalties.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, OSHA Area Director Ken Montgomery said, “Faurecia Emissions Control Systems could have prevented this tragedy by having proper machine guarding that would have protected employees from contact with moving machine parts. Safety requirements are just that, required. This company failed in its legal responsibility to ensure workers were protected from workplace hazards.”
Latest OSHA news
Modular home manufacturer fined $272K by OSHA for 27 health and safety violations
Cavco has been cited for 38 workplace safety and health violations since 2015.
EV battery manufacturer fined $77K after workers suffer respiratory damage in lithium battery fire
The investigation began after a lithium battery fire in October 2023 that caused workers to suffer potentially permanent respiratory damage.
Auto recycler cited for 35 safety violations, faces $869K in penalties
A recent OSHA investigation resulted in two willful violations, four repeat violations, and 29 additional violations.
Learn more about industrial safety
What, Exactly, Is a Leader’s Responsibility Around Psychological Safety?
Employees must feel safe speaking up about work matters, but encouraging a parent-child dynamic in the workplace can cause problems of its own.
Harnessing AI and Machine Learning for Enhanced Safety
"The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) serves as the eyes and ears for AI, providing crucial data for identifying dangerous trends and prompting corrective actions," say Arjun Chandar, CEO of IndustrialML.
Report Questions Warehouse Worker Safety Due to Excessive Surveillance
An Oxfam report says Amazon's and Walmart's technology is harming workers.