Image

OSHA Cites Railroad-Track Manufacturer After Worker Is Crushed to Death

Nov. 12, 2014
OSHA has cited Cleveland Track Material for seven serious violations after a machine operator died in a workplace accident on Aug. 21.

OSHA has cited Cleveland Track Material for seven serious violations after a machine operator died in a workplace accident on Aug. 21.

Elbert Woods, 45, was crushed to death while adjusting a set screw on a rolling mill.  

OSHA’s post-accident investigation found that workers were exposed to dangerous rotating machinery parts at the Cleveland facility, which rolls steel for railroad-industry use. The agency is proposing $49,000 in fines.

“A son lost his father, and a wife lost her husband,” said Howard Eberts, OSHA's area director in Cleveland. “This tragedy could have been prevented had the employer implemented basic safety precautions associated with dangerous machinery.”

Woods, who had been employed at Cleveland Track Materials for 16 years, came in contact with a spinning shaft, and suffered fatal blunt-force trauma and crushing injuries as a result, according to the agency. Woods was the lead rolling-mill operator.

The company allegedly failed to ensure that Woods was protected against contact with rotating parts, chains and sprockets and that machines were properly guarded and locked out prior to maintenance. Additionally, the company failed to properly train employees on the procedures, according to OSHA.

OSHA noted that the alleged violations are among the most frequently cited by the agency at manufacturing plants.

Cleveland Track Material, a subsidiary of Vossloh North America, is based in Reading, Pa. The company employs about 250 workers at manufacturing facilities in Cleveland, Reading and Memphis, Tenn.

The company has 15 business days from the receipt of its citations and penalties to comply or contest OSHA’s findings.

Sponsored Recommendations

Unleashing the Power of Stories: Level-up Safety Culture with Three Easy Storytelling Tools

Jan. 3, 2025
Effective storytelling can shape a workplace culture and improve safety, especially in times of change when risk soars, hazards multiply and human factors threaten to derail progress...

4 Resources to Get Better Safety Performances From Supervisors

Jan. 3, 2025
Here is an overview of four of the best safety resources that safety folks can use as they consider how to get better safety performances from supervisors and workplace leaders...

4 Often Overlooked Types of New Workers—and the Different Dangers They Face

Jan. 3, 2025
This blog post is an adapted excerpt from the safety guide Fitting in Fast: Making a Safe Workplace for New Hires, which examines data and best practices regarding the protection...

4 Ways Frontline Supervisors Influence Workplace Safety

Jan. 3, 2025
These four areas determine whether frontline supervisors are having a positive or negative effect on workplace safety.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!