Alhambra Foundry Company Ltd., manufacturer of metal works for the construction industry, was fined $283,390 by the state for an accident that amputated an employee’s legs.

The accident occurred in August when two workers were cleaning and working on a conveyor attached to an industrial air filtration device. According to the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better known as Cal/OSHA, one of the workers went back into a confined space area in the equipment to retrieve a work light when another worker turned the equipment on. The movement pulled the former into the conveyor and in order to free him, both his legs were amputated. Alhambra Foundry declined to comment.

“Sending a worker into a confined space is dangerous, especially inside machinery that can be powered on at any time,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum in a statement. “Employers must ensure that machinery and equipment are de-energized and locked out before workers enter the space to perform operations involving cleaning and servicing.”

The company was fined for a similar incident in 2009.

Manufacturing and trade reporter Shwanika Narayan can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 556-8351. Follow her on Twitter @shwanika.