OSHA: Lack of Proper Safety Controls Leads to Amputation
OSHA has cited Wellington Stamping for seven serious violations.
OSHA inspectors say an incident that happened at Wellington Stamping (Wellington, Ohio) in January 2015, where a worker lost three of the fingers on his right hand while attempting to clear a machine jam, could have been prevented, according to the agency's news release. The agency determined the company did not train the worker on safely operating the mechanical press, which also lacked adequate safety mechanisms.
Wellington Stamping faces $49,000 in proposed penalties and was cited for seven serious violations.
The man suffered the loss of his right pointer, middle, and ring fingers. "Our investigation found this young man's serious injuries could have been prevented if his employer had complied with OSHA safety standards. The company must correct these discrepancies," said Kimberly Nelson, OSHA's area director in Toledo.
OSHA also found that the company failed to train workers in energy control procedures, such as powering off and affixing lockout devices.