Manufacturer Faces Nearly $148K in Fines for Amputation Hazards in Ohio

November 1, 2013

Napoleon Spring Works Inc., a manufacturer of garage door hardware, has been cited $147,600 in proposed penalties by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 16 safety violations, including exposing workers to amputation hazards at its Archbold, Ohio, plant.

Prompted by complaints alleging multiple safety hazards, OSHA’s April inspection was expanded under OSHA’s national emphasis program on amputations and local emphasis program for powered industrial vehicles.

One willful violation was cited for failing to guard two of the company’s mechanical power presses.

A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.

Fifteen serious violations include failing to periodically inspect energy control procedures; provide sufficient energy control procedures; train workers in lockout/tagout procedures to control unexpected equipment energization; guard mechanical power presses and riveters; conduct periodic inspections of presses; and train workers on the safe operation of presses.

Additional violations involve failing to train and evaluate the safe operation of powered industrial trucks and ensure truck examinations prior to shift use; establish safe clearance around electrical boxes; lockout circuits during maintenance to prevent exposure to live electricity; and maintain written deenergizing procedures.

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.

Napoleon Spring Works Inc. employs 105 workers at its headquarters in Archbold and 160 at facilities in Paterson, N.J., and Phoenix. It is a subsidiary of Lynx Industries, based in Canada. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and 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.

Source: OSHA

Topics Workers' Compensation Ohio Manufacturing

Was this article valuable?

Here are more articles you may enjoy.