Glass manufacturer fined $145K for repeat safety violations, including a lack of worker training
An OSHA follow-up inspection at Gerresheimer Glass Inc. has found that the manufacturer is still not properly training its workers in machine safety procedures. The company, which produces medical glass bottles and vials, was investigated in January after inspections in October and December 2022 found workers exposed to machine hazards. Based on this most recent inspection, Gerresheimer Glass has been cited for one repeat violation and four serious violations. These violations include failing to implement energy control procedures during a mold change, letting workers operate forklifts without necessary training, and exposing workers to an unguarded chain and sprocket on a crusher machine. The company faces $145,415 in penalties.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, OSHA Chicago South Area Director James Martineck said, “Ignoring OSHA and industry-recommended machine safety procedures is a leading cause of injuries in the manufacturing industry. Workers must be trained in specific safety procedures for each machine they operate or service and they should never be exposed to operating machine parts. Employers are responsible for ensuring safe working conditions for all employees in their facilities.”
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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