Lumber Producer Cited for Exposing Workers to Fall and Amputation Hazards
A Pritchard, Alabama company faces proposed penalties of $50,085
An inspection by OSHA found that workers at PJ Lumber Co. were exposed to falls, amputations and other hazards. The company has been cited for 13 serious safety and health violations found at the company’s lumber mill on Stephens Road in Pritchard, Ala. PJ Lumber Co. faces proposed penalties of $50,085.
“PJ Lumber has created an unacceptable work environment at this lumber mill and has shown a complete disregard for its workers’ health and safety,” said Joseph Roesler, director of OSHA’s Mobile Area Office, in a statement. “Employees are subjected daily to multiple hazards, including electrocution, falls, hearing loss and dangerous, unguarded machine parts.”
The serious violations were cited for missing handrails on stairways, amputation hazards from exposed moving machinery parts and exposure to high noise levels without an effective hearing protection plan. The employer failed to provide written procedures to prevent machinery startup during servicing and maintenance and failed to remove forklifts from use when in need of repair. The employer did not require employees to wear seat belts while operating forklifts.
PJ Lumber Co. was previously inspected at the Pritchard lumber mill in 2001 and cited for machinery parts guarding, forklift safety and machinery energy control violations.