OSHA Penalizes Woodworking Manufacturer and Staffing Company $63,600 for Several Amputation Hazards
Architectural woodworking manufacturer Terrill Manufacturing Company Inc. racked up $63,600 in serious violations after several complaints sparked an OSHA investigation which began in January 2016.
OSHA cited Terrill for 18 serious violations including lack of lockout/tagout procedures and allowing rotating rollers, belts, pulleys, sprockets and chains to operate without safety guards.
OSHA also issued serious violations for
- Failure to establish a respiratory protection program.
- Failure to lockout and isolate energy sources prior to maintenance or repair of machines.
- Not evaluating powered industrial truck operators every three years, as required.
- Failure to prevent automatic restart of woodworking machines after power failures.
- Not furnishing ripsaws with a spreader, anti-kickback feature and adjustable guards.
- Not providing hazard communication training to employees working with hazardous chemicals.
- Allowing several hazardous electrical risks.
The company’s San Angelo, Texas facility partnered with A.L. Staffing Inc., doing business as Spherion Staffing, to provide temporary workers which also received two serious violations.
A.L. Staffing allowed workers to operate machine rollers without machine guards and also allowed the workers to operate machines without guards to prevent contact with chains and sprockets.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels mentioned in his session at Safety 2016 that the agency would be doing more to address the issue of temporary workers being improperly trained to recognize safety issues and has been working with the American Staffing Association to address key matters.