May 26, 2015

Worker's finger amputated after being caught in machine at
Superior Roll Forming Company in Valley City, Ohio
Fourth time company has been cited for lack of safety mechanisms

Employer name: Superior Roll Forming Company, Inc.

Investigation site: 5535 Wegman Drive, Valley City, Ohio 44280

Date investigation initiated and what prompted inspection: On March 2, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Cleveland office initiated an inspection at the metal stamping plant after a 55-year-old worker's left index finger was crushed between weld clamps.

The injury was reported to OSHA under new reporting requirements which require employers to report any workplace death within eight hours and any injury requiring hospitalization, amputation or eye injury within 24 hours.

Investigation findings: Investigators cited one repeated violation for exposing workers to operating parts of machinery by failing to install safety mechanisms. The company was cited for similar violations twice in 2012 and once in 2014.

"Superior Roll needs to continue making comprehensive improvements in their safety systems to correct the deficiencies that lead to these types of injuries," said Howard Eberts, OSHA's area director in Cleveland.

Proposed Penalties: $70,000

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Cleveland Area Office at 216-447-4194.

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Media Contacts:

Scott Allen, 312-353-6976, allen.scott@dol.gov
Rhonda Burke, 312-353-6976, burke.rhonda@dol.gov

Release Number: 15-934-CHI

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