Ohio Workers Catches Fire After Clothes Saturated With Oil Mist

Lancaster, OH (WorkersCompensation.com) - EveryWare Global Inc., which operates as Anchor Hocking Co., has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration with nine safety violations carrying proposed penalties of $74,600. OSHA initiated its inspection Jan. 25 after a machine operator reportedly suffered burns when his clothing caught fire after being saturated with oil mist at the Lancaster facility.

"Employers, such as Anchor Hocking, have a responsibility to assess the hazards in their manufacturing processes. They need to ensure workers use personal protective equipment and use common-sense safety measures to prevent injury," said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA's area director in Columbus. "The investigation found that several workers had suffered injuries due to a lack of safety procedures."

One repeat violation was cited for using flexible cords in place of permanent wiring for a shop light. OSHA issues repeat violations if an employer previously was cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. The same violation was cited at this facility in 2012.

A total of eight serious violations were cited. Four involve failing to assess personal protective equipment to prevent workers from being saturated with flammable oil mist while operating glass forging machines, cover floor holes, provide railings and handrails and illuminate an exit sign.

The other four serious violations cited involve OSHA's hazardous energy control standards, which prevent the unintentional operation of machinery or equipment that can lead to injuries, such as being caught in machines and amputation. The company failed to turn off machines while servicing equipment, require the use of lockout/tagout procedures and train workers on such procedures. An OSHA violation is considered serious if death or serious physical harm can result from a hazard an employer knew or should have known exists.

Anchor Hocking, headquarted in Lancaster, is the second largest supplier of glassware in the United States. It has been inspected by OSHA 17 times nationwide in the past 20 years. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and notice of proposed penalties to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. If the company does not file or contest within that period, it must abate the cited conditions within the period ordered in the citations and pay the proposed penalties.

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