Press Release
☷US Department of Labor finds St Louis recycling facility exposed workers to fall machine hazards places company in Severe Violator Program | U S Department of Labor
U.S. Department of Labor ( By Press Release office)
Apr 28,2022
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US Department of Labor finds St . Louis recycling facility exposed workers to fall , machine hazards , places company in Severe Violator Program Central Paper Stock Inc . cited following worker death ST . LOUIS – A workplace safety investigation following a worker’s fatal crushing injuries at a St . Louis recycling facility on Oct . 26 , 2021 , alleges the company failed to erect guards or barriers to prevent workers from falling into a paper baler and de - energize the conveyor and baler while the worker cleared a jam . An investigation by the U . S . Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found the worker was sorting and loading paper products onto the in - feed conveyor of a paper baler when materials jammed the chute and stopped the conveyor . The worker walked up the conveyor to unjam the materials and fell down the chute and into the paper baler . OSHA issued one willful , 21 serious and two other - than - serious safety violations to Central Paper Stock Inc . and proposed penalties of $260 , 508 . The company was also placed in the agency’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program . “A worker’s life might have been saved had safe operating procedures been followed . No worker should ever be exposed to falling into dangerous equipment or being struck by equipment that cycles during service and maintenance , ” said OSHA Area Director Bill McDonald in St . Louis . “The numerous safety OSHA violations cited in this facility must be addressed to prevent a similar tragedy . ”OSHA also cited Central Paper Stock for violations involving walking - working surfaces , personal protective equipment , potential explosive dust accumulation , permit - required confined spaces , sanitary conditions , electrical wiring , fire extinguisher training and hazard communication . The agency’s fall protection standards offer safety information about hazards and proper safety procedures for walking - working surfaces . Central Paper Stock Inc . is a materials recovery facility that purchases , sorts and bales over 20 , 000 tons of paper and plastic goods annually . 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 . Learn more about OSHA .
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