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An envelope printing company in Ohio faces $88,200 in fines from federal regulators for three incidents that took place over just four months.
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Envelope 1 Inc., based in Columbiana, Ohio, after an initial inspection found the business willfully did not protect its employees from actively moving mechanical parts on 26 out of 27 company production lines. This lack of protection caused three employees serious injuries.
Envelope Company Willfully Violated Safety Standards
On June 29th of last year, a newly employed 52-year-old man accidentally caught his finger in a pinch point of print rollers while he was wiping the roller. The finger was amputated.
Not three months later on September 16th, a 29-year-old employee was clearing equipment from a scoring section of the line where his finger was injured and required partial amputation. OSHA later found the machine lacked the required safety guards.
In that same month on September 28th, a 73-year-old man was adjusting the rollers and injured his hand. Later, part of his thumb was amputated.
Officially, OSHA cited Envelope 1 Inc. for three serious violations, which includes a lack of sufficient machine guarding on multiple machines. Additionally, OSHA cited the company for three willful violations, one of which includes the absence of procedures to control possibly hazardous energy. OSHA’s Area Director of Cleveland, Howard Eberts, made a statement regarding the incidents.
“When repeated amputation injuries occur at a business, safety is not a priority,” Eberts said. “After OSHA initiated its first inspection involving an amputation in June 2015, Envelope 1 failed to take immediate steps to protect workers. If they had, it may have prevented other injuries.”
It is Your Employer’s Responsibility to Provide a Safe Work Environment
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are charged with the responsibility of ensuring their employees are kept safe in a healthy working environment. When they fail to do so, it is important to contact an attorney to assess your situation and explain your rights.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC is a workers’ compensation law firm that fights for victims of workplace injury in Ohio.