A flooring materials company in Norfolk, Nebraska, earned themselves a spot on OSHA’s Severe Violator list when it was discovered that not only did the company put their employees in danger because of an unsafe workplace, but that they tried to dodge inspectors by hiding unsafe machinery and threatening to terminate employees who told inspectors what was going on.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) went to MP Global Products after one of their temporary workers lost a finger and injured another finger when his hand was caught in a machine this March. According to OSHA inspectors, the company tried to hide an entire production line from them by turning off machines and turning off the lights in the room where they were, then hiding employees in another room and telling them to stay quiet while inspectors were around.

Inspectors also found that the company did not train their workers on proper machine operation and safety, as well as other potential job hazards like the dangers of working with chemicals and loud noises. The site had crowded and blocked aisles, exposed electrical parts, improper exit signs and several machines without proper safeguards. The company received a total of 25 citations. Two willful, 22 serious and one for an other-than-serious violation of failing to give employees information on respirators to employees who voluntarily wore them. They were placed on the administration’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program and were fined $244,000 for their citations.

MP Global says they disagree with OSHA’s findings and that they provide a safe place for their employees to work. They said the allegations and penalties proposed by OSHA were “grossly inappropriate” and intend to present evidence to the administration to combat the charges.