Ohio Manufacturer Faces OSHA Penalties for Repeated Safety Violations

ArcelorMittal Tubular Products USA LLC, a key player in North America’s steel industry, is under scrutiny again after failing to prevent a serious employee injury in December 2023 at its Shelby, Ohio, facility. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identified this incident as a result of the company’s continued negligence towards machine guarding, specifically at a pinch point where an employee suffered significant lower arm and wrist injuries.

Despite similar hazards being cited in 2022 at the same location, OSHA’s recent investigation led to four repeat violations being issued against the company, including inadequate machine guarding, failure to implement lockout/tagout procedures, and insufficient training on machine operation safety. As a consequence, ArcelorMittal Tubular Products USA is facing $253,515 in proposed penalties.

This incident adds to a concerning track record for ArcelorMittal’s U.S. subsidiaries, which have been cited for 80 violations since 2014, alongside investigations into seven work-related deaths across multiple states. This pattern of safety lapses has attracted OSHA’s attention, underscoring the need for stringent adherence to workplace safety regulations to prevent future incidents.

ArcelorMittal Tubular Products USA, now under the umbrella of Cleveland-Cliffs since a 2020 sale, operates manufacturing facilities in Marion and Shelby, Ohio. The company has a 15-business-day period from the receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.