The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited an Illinois pallet manufacturer for machine safety violations when an employee was injured doing maintenance. Inspectors visited Supplyside USA, operating as Prime Woodcraft Inc. and found that the company had failed to install adequate machine guards among other things. They received eleven violations which can be found here.

They received a serious violation for failing to keep the workrooms in clean condition; there was a fire hazard due to wood dust that had settled on electrical equipment. They also received a serious violation for failing to train employees who are exposed to hazardous noise levels and another for failing to establish an energy control procedure to prevent equipment from starting up unexpectedly. They also received a serious citation for failing to protect workers from amputation hazards, trim saws were being used without an adequate guard. They received six serious citations altogether and three other-than-serious violations. One of the other-than-serious violations was for failure to report in-patient hospitalization of one of their employees after a work-related incident.

They received two repeat citations. They had previously been cited at another location because they failed to ensure that machines with rotating blades were properly guarded, and they were cited again in this inspection. They also received a repeat citation because they failed to implement a written hazard communication program to address training and proper container labeling. They are facing fines of $91,832.

“Too often, employees are injured because companies lack adequate machine safety procedures and safeguards,” said the OSHA Chicago South Area Office Director Kathy Webb. “Employers have a responsibility to evaluate their workplaces for hazards, and ensure safe operations.”

Read the OSHA release here.