Plastics manufacturer cited in worker fatality

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Thursday that it cited a Georgia plastic and resin manufacturer after a worker was fatally crushed inside of a machine.

OSHA cited Woodbury-based Crown USA Inc. for eight “serious” violations and six “other-than-serious” violations and proposed $98,699 in penalties.

The worker who died was servicing an unlocked hooding palletizer. OSHA said the company failed to institute proper machine guarding and didn’t train employees on proper energy control procedures that are designed to prevent machines from starting up during maintenance.

OSHA said Crown USA also exposed workers to serious respiratory hazards, failed to provide personal protective equipment that protects eye and skin irritation, and failed to conduct inspections of energy control procedures.

The company has 15 business days to contest the citation and proposed penalties.