A 29-year-old maintenance electrician suffered severe burns during an electrical arc flash at an MTD Products facility in Willard, Ohio. The electrician was replacing fuses to repair an industrial oven.
An OSHA investigation found that the company, operating as Stanley Black & Decker, could have prevented the injury if safety standards were followed. Stanley Black & Decker acquired MTD in 2021 for $1.6 billion.
Arc flashes happen when an electric current travels through the air from one conductor to another or the ground. The flashes can produce temperatures above 35,000°F.
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After the incident, MTD reported the worker's hospitalization, which triggered an OSHA inspection on Dec. 20, 2023. Safety investigators found several safety issues, including failure to provide required personal protective equipment for employees working around energized electrical equipment.
OSHA said Stanley Black & Decker lacked safe work practices and training for electrical maintenance employees and failed to provide required lockout/tagout procedures for energized electrical equipment. The company also exposed workers to potential fall hazards.
The company has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Based in New Britain, Connecticut, Stanley Black & Decker is a $14.5 billion global company with 56,000 employees across more than 60 countries.
The company operates the world's largest tools and storage business, featuring brands like DeWalt, Stanley, Black+Decker and Craftsman.
MTD makes outdoor power equipment. Its brands include Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt.
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