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Hinkle Manufacturing Inc. is facing $61,600 in proposed fines from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). According to an OSHA news release, in May, a worker at a Hinkle Manufacturing production facility in Perrysburg, Ohio suffered a laceration injury on one of the facility’s band saws. The injury came as a result of the company failing to have machine guarding on the saw.
After receiving a complaint alleging the injury later in May, OSHA inspected Hinkle Manufacturing’s Perrysburg facility. The inspection uncovered a willful safety violation for failing to have machine guarding on multiple band saws. Any violation that is committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements or with plain indifference to employee safety and health is considered a willful violation.
“Exposing workers to lacerations and possible amputation injuries by neglecting to ensure machine guarding is in place is unacceptable,” said Kim Nelson, OSHA’s area director in Toledo. “Companies must be aware of the hazards that exist in their facilities and take all possible precautions to minimize the risk of injury.”
This is not the first time that Hinkle Manufacturing has been cited for this type of violation. In March 2011, after a worker suffered a fingertip amputation by an unguarded band saw at a Hinkle Manufacturing facility, the company was cited for the same violation.
There is more information available on our site about workplace rights violations—including workers’ compensation disputes and on the job injuries due to employer negligence. If you would like to discuss your situation with one of our Columbus workers’ comp attorneys, contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation.
Did You Know?: Trauma is the second leading cause of amputations.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus Workers Comp Attorneys