Valencia Twp., Pa. (WJET/WFXP) -- A Butler County finishing company has been deemed a severe offender and is facing over $345,000 in fines after federal investigators said the company put an employee in a dangerous position to "minimize downtime and maximize production" and lead to their death.

Investigators from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began their investigation into Vorteq Coil Finishers LLC in Butler Co., PA on Sept. 6 after 46-year-old Joseph Reyes of Butler Co., a supervisor at the plant, suffered fatal injuries while cleaning a chrome roller on a coater machine the previous day.

OSHA investigators said the employee was ordered to clean the machine while it was still running before they were pulled into it and suffered fatal injuries.

Vorteq Coil Finishers LLC, which finishes steel and aluminum coils, has been cited for two willful and serious violations each for failing to install any lockout/tagout procedures, along with machine guards, and is facing a combined $345,685 in fines.

The Pittsburgh area OSHA director said there's a serious need to change company culture citing previous incidents at the same plant along with others owned by Vorteq Coil Finishers.

“Vorteq Coil Finishers’ failure to value employee safety created conditions that cost a worker his life,” said OSHA Area Office Director Christopher Robinson. “This incident, and the company’s history of similar incidents and serious injuries at this and other plants, emphasize the crucial need for a shift in company culture to make worker safety and health a core workplace principle. OSHA will continue to monitor and hold the company accountable until there are sufficient changes.”

Robinson added to his comments by saying management knew how dangerous the task was but still required employees to clean the machine while it was running.

“All evidence gathered during the inspection revealed that management employees at the highest level of the plant knew how dangerous it was to clean this machine while it was operating but required employees to do so to minimize downtime and maximize production,” he said.

The company will have 15 days to appeal the penalties to OSHA or pay the penalties. The full citation by OSHA is available online here.