A tragic incident took place at AJIN USA’s Cusseta facility in 2016, resulting in the death of a young machine operator. Well, after a long legal battle, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has upheld citations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) against AJIN USA, now known as Joon LLC, which operates as a global supplier of parts to Hyundai and Kia.
OSHA cited the company for 51 safety violations, including 48 willful violations, and on February 10, 2023, an administrative law judge affirmed the majority of these violations. The company will now pay over $1.3 million in penalties to address the violations. This is a stark reminder to all employers that the U.S. Department of Labor will hold them accountable when they fail to meet federal requirements to protect the safety and health of their employees.
In September 2020, AJIN USA was ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama to pay a $500,000 fine and $1 million in restitution to the deceased woman’s estate after pleading guilty to a charge of a willful violation of an OSHA standard. These penalties cannot recover a life lost needlessly, but it is a step towards ensuring that similar incidents do not occur in the future.
OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer emphasized that failing to lock out equipment causes far too many serious injuries and deaths. In this case, a young woman lost her life because her employer took shortcuts to minimize downtime and maintain production. Employers must prioritize the safety and health of their employees over production goals.
The recent affirmation of citations against AJIN USA serves as a stark reminder to all employers that worker safety must be a top priority. The U.S. Department of Labor will hold employers accountable when they fail to meet federal requirements to protect the safety and health of their employees. In this tragic incident, a young machine operator lost her life due to the employer’s failure to follow OSHA regulations. It’s crucial that all employers prioritize the safety and health of their employees over production goals. Compliance with OSHA standards and the development of a workplace safety and health program are essential to creating safe and healthy workplaces for all employees.
To learn more about developing a workplace safety and health program or for free help on complying with OSHA standards, visit OSHA’s website or contact the agency for information about their compliance assistance resources. It’s critical that we all work together to create safe and healthy workplaces for all employees.
AJIN USA is a global automotive parts supplier established in 2008 with a focus on “Diligent, Creative Development, and Technique Cultivation.” The company focuses on manufacturing automotive parts rapidly and at competitive prices.
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