The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Marshfield Door Systems Inc. with one repeat and two alleged serious violations after a worker's hand was trapped in an ingoing nip point on a conveyor belt line in March. The accident resulted in contusions, abrasions, and friction burns. Proposed penalties total $46,200.
"Installing proper machine guarding is a basic safety precaution that Marshfield Door Systems should have taken for the protection of its workers," said Kim Stille, OSHA area director in Madison. "We are committed to ensuring that employers adhere to OSHA's common-sense standards in order to prevent avoidable injuries, such as this one." (WCxKit)
The repeat violation was cited for failing to train workers in lockout/tagout procedures to control energy sources for equipment on conveyor belt line number one and carries a proposed penalty of $33,000,. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Marshfield Door Systems was also cited for failing to provide training on lockout/tagout procedures in 2009.
The serious violations are failing to inspect energy control procedures within the past year and to install guarding to protect workers from an exposed nip point on the conveyor. This carries a proposed penalty of $13,200, A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
(WCxKit)Prior to OSHA's most recent inspection in March following the injury, the Marshfield-based company was inspected 13 times since 2001. Those inspections resulted in 27 citations, including some for violations of lockout/tagout and machine guarding standards.
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