NILES — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the death of an employee at BRT Extrusions Inc., an aluminum manufacturing plant at 1818 N. Main Street in Niles.

The Trumbull County Coroner’s Office and Niles police detectives also are investigating.

The worker was found unconscious at his press on a Friday afternoon and was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died.

Niles police say they were notified of the death the following Monday, prompting a joint investigation by a Niles detective and a coroner’s investigator to examine the circumstances at the facility.

The Trumbull County Coroner’s Office confirmed that BRT Extrusions reported the incident to OSHA, as required. The employee’s identity and cause of death remain undisclosed pending further investigation.

BRT OSHA HISTORY

OSHA’s Cleveland Area Office initiated an inspection on Feb. 20, 2025, focusing on health-related concerns at the plant. As of Monday, this inspection remains active, though OSHA has not disclosed specific details about its scope or findings. Attempts to reach BRT Extrusions for comment were unsuccessful.

BRT Extrusions, which employs approximately 200 workers and specializes in manufacturing aluminum extrusion components, has a documented history of safety challenges.

OSHA records show multiple inspections at the facility over the years, often triggered by complaints or referrals. In 2007 and 2009, OSHA cited BRT for violations related to inadequate machine guarding, which is critical for protecting workers from hazardous moving parts.

Public records do not specify the penalties or corrective actions resulting from these inspections.

A notable prior incident occurred on Aug. 6, 2014, when Daniel Banks, a 49-year-old machine operator from Leavittsburg, was fatally crushed while clearing unprocessed aluminum parts from an extrusion press.

OSHA’s investigation revealed that BRT failed to implement proper lockout / tagout procedures, which ensure machinery is powered off and secured during maintenance to prevent accidents. The agency issued six serious violations, citing hazards that could cause death or significant harm, particularly due to the lack of machine guarding. OSHA proposed $28,000 in penalties, and BRT cooperated fully, resolving the case within 15 days.

Another incident in January 2020 involved a 29-year-old employee who suffered a fractured leg after bypassing a safety guard and being struck by the moving arms of a conveyor. OSHA conducted an inspection prompted by a referral, focusing on amputation risks.

The inspection closed the following day, suggesting either rapid compliance by BRT or no citations issued, but specific details are not publicly available.

Additional OSHA inspections occurred in 2021 and 2023, both initiated by complaints and centered on workplace safety, with particular attention to amputation risks and localized hazards. Both cases were resolved within weeks, and public records do not indicate specific violations or penalties.