The death of a 52-year-old contractor, crushed by a conveyor carriage weighing nearly 4 tons at an automotive assembly plant, could have been averted if his employer followed federal safety standards, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators recently determined.
In December 2014, a weld failure caused a temporary support safety pin to disengage on an assembly line conveyor carriage at the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo. The 7,600-pound carriage then fell on the worker.
In its review, federal inspectors cited KCI Inc., which is rebuilding the assembly line at the Ford Motor Co. plant, with one willful safety violation under OSHA's general duty clause.
The agency determined that KCI did not provide a workplace free of recognized hazards. OSHA has proposed penalties of $70,000 to the construction company, which employed the deceased worker. The agency also cited Ford for not inspecting the assembly line's construction.
Accident was Preventable, Tragic Loss for Family
"This worker's death was preventable and a tragic loss for his family," said Barb Theriot, OSHA's area director in Kansas City. "KCI and Ford have a responsibility to inspect assembly lines and ensure that workers moving large parts are protected from crushing and struck-by hazards. Employers have an obligation and responsibility to protect their workers."
OSHA cited the automaker for one serious violation for failing to perform inspections as part of Ford's accident prevention program. Proposed penalties total $7,000.
Both companies were given 15 business days from receipt of their citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Kansas City, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Author Kori Shafer-Stack, Editor, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in post-injury response procedures and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: kstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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