Federal workplace safety investigators have determined that Haier US Appliance Solutions Inc., a manufacturer of GE-brand appliances in Decatur, Alabama, failed to adhere to machine safety standards. This oversight led to the fatal injuries of a 58-year-old supervisor who was servicing a door molding machine in July 2024.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducted an investigation into the incident. They found that the company permitted workers to bypass safety doors on machines and did not implement necessary procedures to prevent injuries during maintenance activities.
“Haier US Appliance Solutions could have avoided this tragedy but put production schedules and profit ahead of employee safety,” stated OSHA Area Office Director Joel Batiz in Birmingham, Alabama. He highlighted the company's ongoing issues with safety compliance, which affect over 1,500 employees at its Decatur facility.
OSHA cited Haier for one willful violation related to lockout/tagout procedures, which are essential for de-energizing machines before service or maintenance. Additionally, two serious violations were issued for allowing employees access by bypassing interlocking safety doors and failing to conduct annual inspections of lockout/tagout procedures.
The proposed penalties amount to $193,585, which is the maximum legally permissible by OSHA. This incident is part of a pattern; since 2016, there have been 40 safety inspections at Haier's facilities in Louisville, Kentucky, and Decatur. These inspections revealed multiple machine safety violations, including previous fatal incidents like one involving a worker in Louisville in February 2019.
Haier US Appliance Solutions Inc., based in Louisville and employing approximately 1,575 people in Decatur alone, is a subsidiary of China-based Haier Smart Home Company. The company has manufacturing plants in Louisville and Decatur as well as distribution centers across various U.S. locations.
The company now has 15 business days from receiving their citations and penalties to either comply with them or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
For further information on workplace safety programs or assistance with compliance standards, OSHA encourages employers to visit their website or contact them directly.
