North American Lighting Inc., Paris, Ill., is facing more than $85,000 in penalties after an OSHA investigation recently found the company lacked adequate machine safety procedures. This inquiry was in response to an accident that occurred on Nov. 14, 2020 in which a master maintenance technician for this central Illinois lighting manufacturer suffered severe facial burns when pressurized material in a plastic molding machine exploded.
The OSHA investigation determined North American Lighting lacked proper lockout/tagout control procedures to protect workers during maintenance work, failed to review and test its lockout/tagout procedures annually for effectiveness, and did not ensure employees used proper eye and face protection.
OSHA cited the company for one repeat violation and three serious violations of machine safety standards and requirements for personal protective equipment. The agency cited the company for similar violations in 2019 at the same facility, and proposed $85,826 in penalties. Lack of machine safety procedures is the fourth most frequently cited OSHA violation.
“Employers must ensure that machines and equipment are disabled before workers perform service and maintenance to prevent unexpected startup or release of hazardous energy and materials,” said OSHA Area Director Barry Salerno in Peoria, Illinois. “If North American Lighting took the time to implement and test the safety procedures, this serious injury could have been prevented.”
A subsidiary of the Koito Group of Tokyo, North American Lighting Inc. manufactures automotive lighting systems at eight facilities nationwide.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
