Federal labor authorities notified construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar of $145,000 fine for the death of a worker who died by falling into a cauldron in which steel was smelted.
An investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the Department of Labor found that Caterpillar would have violated several provisions of the law due to the death of an employee.
The OSHA investigation found that the object from which the worker fell was believed to be there were no safety rails it also lacked restraint systems to protect workers in the event of a fall.
According to the labor authorities, these additions are part of the requirements that the law places on companies in places where workers doing dangerous work or when handling hazardous equipment.
According to OSHA, Caterpillar allegedly “regularly expose employees to fall hazards without protection, working four feet under a red-hot cast-iron ceramic pot.”
June 2 Caterpillar Foundry Specialist fell into a smelter 11 feet deepleading to her instant death, according to OSHA.
The incident took place at a manufacturing facility located in Mapleton, Illinois, where a 39-year-old worker fell into the water.a pot with a temperature over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Caterpillar’s failure to meet its legal obligations to ensure the safety and health of its workers is causing unnecessary suffering to this worker’s family, friends and colleagues,” OSHA Regional Director Christine Zortman said in a statement.
Local media identified the worker as Stephen Matthew Dirkeswho was the father of two little girls.
For its part, Caterpillar indicated in a statement sent to CBSNews that the company is “deeply saddened” by the death of its employee after only nine days on the job.
“The safety of our employees, contractors and visitors is our top priority at all Caterpillar locations around the world,” said Lisa Miller, a spokeswoman for the company.
In addition to the $145,000 fine, OSHA cited the company in its investigation.
Source: La Opinion
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