An Alabama business where a 38-year-old worker was killed in an industrial accident could have prevented the employee’s death by taking basic safety measures, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Thursday.

OSHA is proposing fines totaling $95,981 in penalties — the maximum allowed under law — against Cullman Casting Corp. after it cited the business for six serious violations following the Aug. 23 death of Michael Thompson, 38.

Thompson, the second shift production supervisor at the Cullman foundry, attempted to adjust a plastic film on a mold machine – meant to produce forklift counterweights – when the machine cycled, pinning the worker between the moving components inside, the agency said.

OSHA investigators determined Cullman Casting repeatedly exposed workers to safety hazards by failing to de-energize and lockout the automated molding machine while workers were performing maintenance and cleaning. Investigators found the company exposed workers to caught-in hazards by failing to:

• Develop and utilize written lockout/tagout procedures.
• Conduct periodic inspections of lockout/tagout procedures.
• Ensure that employees are trained on lockout/tagout procedures.
• Ensure that employees are placing locks when conducting lockout/tagout procedures.
• Ensure machine guarding was in place for employees working in the pit.

“This tragic incident should never have occurred,” said OSHA Area Office Director Joel Batiz in Birmingham, Alabama. “Manufacturing companies use complex, high-powered, industrial-sized equipment and every precaution must be taken, and every safety procedure followed. When an employer such as Cullman Casting Corp. fails to make safety a priority, severe and sadly fatal consequences can occur, leaving family and friends to grieve.”

Cullman Casting was notified of the proposed fines on Feb. 29. It has 15 business days from that date to decide whether to comply with OSHA’s findings, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.