GSI Group, LLC is a grain dryer equipment manufacturer based in Assumption, Illinois.  This week, the company was cited by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for two serious safety violations and one willful violation.  Federal OSHA officials began investigations into the company after a worker was wrongfully killed in a workplace accident when operating a laser cutting machine at the company's plant in Newton this past summer.

GSI Group received a willful violation citation for failing to put up guards on its automatic laser cutting machine.  In addition, the  company was cited for two serious safety violations involving not properly closing an electrical box opening and not using lockout procedures with the laser cutting machine.  

OSHA area director Thomas Bielema stated, "A worker should never lose his or her life because an employer fails to follow safety regulations...GSI could have avoided this tragedy had it been following the required OSHA safety standard".