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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has hit Napoleon Spring Works Inc. with 16 safety violations. The violations carry $147,600 in proposed penalties and include citations for exposing workers to amputation hazards, according to an OSHA regional news release.
After receiving complaints alleging multiple safety hazards, OSHA conducted an inspection of Napoleon Spring Works’ Archibold, Ohio garage door hardware manufacturing plant in April. During the inspection, OSHA discovered 16 violations, including one willful violation for failing to guard two mechanical power presses. OSHA considers a violation willful if it is committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements or with plain indifference to employee safety and health.
The other 15 violations Napoleon Spring Works was cited for were serious violations, including:
Failing to guard mechanical power presses and riveters
Failing to establish safe clearance around electrical boxes
Failing to periodically inspect energy control procedures
Failing to lockout circuits during maintenance to prevent exposure to live electricity
Failing to train workers in lockout/tagout procedures to control unexpected equipment energization
“Our inspection found that employees were exposed to injury and amputation risk in this facility because of insufficient guarding at the point of operation of various machines,” Kim Nelson, the OSHA area director in Toledo, told the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Public Affairs. “Amputation hazards are one of the leading causes of injury in manufacturing. Napoleon Spring Works must be aware of workplace hazards and take all precautions to protect its workers.”
If you suspect your employer is violating your rights, our Columbus workers’ comp lawyers can help. For over eight decades, our firm has been successfully helping workers who were injured on the job due to their employer’s negligence.
Please visit our website for free attorney advice about workers’ compensation and Social Security disability benefits. To schedule a free consultation, contact our firm today at (614) 221-7548.
Did You Know?: According to OSHA, 49 percent of injuries on mechanical presses result in amputation.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus Workers Comp Attorneys