Loren Cook Co. fined by OSHA

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Nov. 10 handed Loren Cook Co. 10 violations and $511,000 in fines related to the death of a worker at the plant this spring.

On May 13, an unidentified 59-year-old man was struck in the head by a piece of metal that came loose at his workstation, according to a May Springfield Police Department news release.

OSHA acting Assistant Secretary Jordan Barab said in an OSHA news release that Loren Cook "willfully allowed its employees to work on dangerous equipment without safeguarding the machinery and exposed workers to debris ejected while operating manual spinning lathes."

The administration proposed seven willful citations for failing to guard seven manual spinning lathes. The willful citations - issued when an employer "exhibits plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health" - total $490,000.

OSHA also proposed three serious citations - issued "when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which an employer knew or should have known" - totaling $21,000, for a lack of personal face and hand protection.

Loren Cook, which has 15 days from receipt of the citations to comply or contest the findings, manufactures commercial fans and blowers, and employs about 580 at its Springfield facility.

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