Machine Guarding, Lock-out/ Tag-out and Hearing Conservation Violations Continue to Plague Ohio Manufacturers

While some manufacturers seem to (mistakenly) believe that OSHA has lost their initiative to enforce the long-established safety regulations, evidence to the contrary continues to hit those manufacturers who choose to “back-burner” their safety improvement actions. Two such recent cases which occurred in Ohio are:

Ohio Wood Pallet Manufacturer Cited After Employee Amputation
Buckeye Diamond Logistics, Inc., was cited for lockout/tagout violations after an employee’s finger was amputated while working with an energized pallet stack machine. The pallet manufacturer was also cited for failing to install machine guards, train employees on procedures to prevent unintentional machine start-up, and exposing employees to electrical hazards. The company faces $190,794 in proposed penalties. Read the news release for more information.

Ohio Manufacturer Cited For Exposing Employees to Excessive Noise and Other Hazards

OSHA cited Polystar Containment for exposing employees to excessive noise that led to hearing loss. Inspectors concluded that the employer failed to: monitor employee hearing loss; install controls to reduce noise levels; use machine guards; provide adequate respiratory protection; remove damaged forklifts from use; train workers on hazardous communication; and properly store flammable materials. The company faces penalties totaling $331,490. Read the news release for more information.

Are you like many Ohio manufacturers who want to “do the right thing” but are uncertain about how well your current operations comply with OSHA regulations? Let CTI assist you by conducting a Safety Assessment of your facility. Knowing you have a workable and cost-effective program to achieve/maintain safety compliance will lower the risk of worker injury, increase productivity, improve morale and let you focus on the products/ services you do best.