OSHA Fines Canton Drop Forge $10,427 After Employee Death

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The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a $10,427 fine to Canton Drop Forge, a manufacturing company in Ohio, for a hazard that resulted in the death of a 37-year-old employee named Daniel Chavez in July. The OSHA citation stated that employees were exposed to the risk of being struck during die key removal on forging hammers, and that the employer assigned employees to perform work in an unsafe manner.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the importance of workplace safety regulations and the consequences companies can face when they fail to protect their employees. OSHA fines and citations are intended to incentivize companies to prioritize worker safety and address recognized hazards that could lead to serious injury or death.

The details

On July 7, Daniel Chavez, a 37-year-old employee of Canton Drop Forge, died as a result of blunt force trauma from an accident at the factory. OSHA issued a citation to the company, stating that it failed to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. Specifically, the citation noted that workers were exposed to the risk of being struck during the process of removing die keys from forging hammers, and that the company assigned employees to perform work in an unsafe manner.

• The accident occurred on July 7.
• The hazard was addressed by January 20.
• OSHA's final order was issued on January 22.

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Canton Drop Forge to contest the OSHA fine.