Worker suffers fatal molten metal burns, manufacturer fined $145K
An OSHA investigation has discovered that Ellwood Engineered Castings Co. could have prevented the death of a 30-year-old employee. The incident occurred when the employee was working at the bottom of a pit below the casting operation. According to the agency, the Ohio industrial manufacturer did not have an effective process for containing and managing molten metal leaks, causing the worker to suffer fatal burns.
During the OSHA investigation, Ellwood Engineered Castings was cited for 11 serious violations. These violations include failing to implement an effective permit-required confined space program, not training workers on the dangers in the pit, and exposing workers to fall hazards. Because of these citations, the company faces $145,184 in penalties.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, OSHA Area Director Howard Eberts said, “A worker died needlessly because Ellwood Engineered Castings Co. failed to protect him and his colleagues from obvious and deadly hazards. The company could have prevented this tragedy being responsible and by following well-known safety measures.”
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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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