Bellevue plant fined for worker's death

BELLEVUE — A Bellevue company was fined for its role in the death of a worker last year. ABC Technologies USA, which is also known as Precision Automotive Plastics, was issued five citations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also known as OSHA, for the June 27, 2024 death of a 31-year-old Willard man. The company was fined more than $80,000. With informal settlements, the amount was reduced to $60,000. The company is currently petitioning OSHA for extra time to correct the issue with the fifth citation. All five citations were listed as "serious": • The first stated, "All functional operating mechanisms were not inspected daily for maladjustment interfering with proper operation." • The second states, "Complete inspections of crane(s) had not been performed at intervals as generally defined in… this section. • The third citation was for, "a preventive maintenance program based on the crane manufacturer's recommendations was not established." • "A thorough inspection of all ropes was not being made at least once a month," was the fourth citation. • The final citation states, "During hoisting, the load contacted obstructions." A search of the Sandusky County Clerk of Courts database did not reveal any lawsuits filed on behalf of the man's estate against Precision or ABC. What happened? At about 7:30 a.m. on June 27, 2024, first responders were called to Precision for the report of a crane accident, according to Bellevue fire Chief Joe Wilhelm. They arrived to find a man pinned under a piece of molding equipment. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. "Due to safety concerns and tactical challenges, the employee was extricated around 3 p.m.," according to a Bellevue fire press release, which did not provide further details. The man's body was sent to Lucas County for an autopsy. Scott Allen, regional director of media relations for the U.S. Department of Labor confirmed OSHA opened an investigation with ABC Technologies.