Company cited after worker’s death at GM stamping plant

MARION, Ind. (WISH) – A company has been cited after the death of a worker at the General Motors Metal Stamping Plant this summer.

Forty-eight-year-old James Gibson died from an explosion inside the plant in July. Gibson worked for Quaker Chemical Corporation and supervised the Chemical Management Services Division.

The Indiana Department of Labor of Occupational Safety and Administration (IOSHA) issued a safety order to Quaker Chemical Corporation saying the company didn’t establish and maintain conditions that were reasonably safe and healthful for employees. The second serious violation says employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area. You can read the entire order by clicking here.

Quaker Chemical Corporation faces a fine of more than $12,000. A Quaker spokesman told 24-Hour News 8 the company is aware of the order and has a meeting with IOSHA next week.

General Motors issued a statement saying:

“The death of this contract employee at Marion Metal Center last July was tragic. GM, its union partners, and its third-party contractors each seek to prevent accidents from occurring at any GM facility.”

– Stephanie Jentgen, GM