Ohio Food Worker Suffers Amputation Injury

Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have cited an Ohio cookie manufacturer after a worker lost part of his finger during a workplace accident. According to OSHA, the worker at Hearthside Food Solutions LLC, was injured while servicing an unguarded dough-cutting machine. OSHA regulations require employers to utilize machine-guarding policies and equipment to prevent accidents involving dangerous moving parts. Machine guarding can help prevent workplace accidents capable of causing amputation injuries.

Investigators with OSHA discovered the employer had been cited for inadequate machine guarding five years ago, which would make the current violations serious and repeated. This time around, OSHA intends to fine the cookie manufacturer $52,500. The fine may mean little to Hearthside Food Solutions LLC, which is one of the largest manufacturers of baked goods in the United States.

How Should Employers Prevent Amputation Injuries?

OSHA regulations require that any machine, part or function capable of causing injuries must be properly guarded. This is often referred to as guarding “points of operation” on machinery and other equipment with moving parts. Employers can guard machines by using barriers, hand tripping devices and electronic safety equipment that can turn off machinery.

Workers should be properly trained on how to work safely around machines with many moving parts. In addition, employers should provide hand tools and other equipment to reduce the risk of workplace injuries.

Depending on the type of injury, workers might be able to receive workers’ compensation, disability or other kinds of benefits. To learn more about amputation injuries, continue to explore our website.

Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC – Columbus Workers’ Comp Attorneys