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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Administration (OSHA) announced it will be issuing fines to N.C. Hunt Inc. following an inspection of its sawmill facility near Augusta, Maine. OSHA officials inspected the facility initially in December of 2012, according to the Kennebec Journal.
Violations include failure to implement procedures to prevent workers from being struck by logging carriages, a lack of protective barriers and a lack of guardrails and warning signs. Three violations were classified as repeat violations.
“These recurring hazards exposed employees to the hazards of falls and being struck by machinery,” said regional OSHA Director William Coffin. “It’s imperative that employers take effective and ongoing action to ensure that hazards, once corrected, remain corrected.”
The N.C. Hunt facility has been owned and operated by the same family since the 1940’s. The Northeast Lumber Manufacturers Association recognized the sawmill in 2011 for the amount of hours in operation without a serious injury. This shows how even companies that have an impressive safety track record must be diligent in maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.
There is more information on workers comp and worker safety available on our website. Call our office today at (614) 221-7548 today for a free consultation if you or a loved one has been injured.
Tip of the week: According to statistics from OSHA, employees injured after being struck by an object account for approximately 10 percent of all workplace accidents.