A Georgia wooden post manufacturer is facing $109,548 after a worker suffered a partial hand amputation.
DuPont Yard Inc.of Homersville, Ga. allowed employees to operate unsafe machinery resulting in the injury, according to OSHA.
“Employers that fail to incorporate safety in their work operations are placing employees at risk for serious injuries,” said OSHA Savannah Area Office Director Margo Westmoreland, in a statement. “This employer’s disregard for safety is leaving employees vulnerable to preventable hazards.”
The agency cited the company for the unguarded machinery as well as failing to have an emergency stop switch on a conveyor, exposing employees to caught-in and amputation hazards.
In 2014, OSHA issued 14 citations, including eight repeated violations, to DuPont Yard for not keeping the floors and walkways free of debris, exposing workers to falls due to missing guardrails, as well as shock and burn hazards from uncovered wiring in junction boxes and electrical panels and not providing workers with forklift training.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.