Lumber Company Fined After Fatal Injury
It said the company was fined $6,600 for not safeguarding exposed shafts in four locations, including the conveyor where Busha died; and $8,400 for a serious-repeat violation of not ensuring that bench grinders were guarded to prevent severe injuries to the hand and face.
The Washington state Department of Labor & Industries announced June 19 that it has fined Manke Lumber Company Inc. for 25 serious and 11 general safety and health violations, with fines totaling $87,120. L&I began an investigation of the Tacoma company on Dec. 12, 2014, after being notified that a worker had been fatally injured. Jeffrey Busha died when his clothing was caught by a rotating shaft that pulled him into a conveyor as he was trying to loosen jammed lumber, according to the agency's release.
It said the company was fined $6,600 for not safeguarding exposed shafts in four locations, including the conveyor where Busha died; and $8,400 for a serious-repeat violation of not ensuring that bench grinders were guarded to prevent severe injuries to the hand and face. The company had been previously cited for that violation in 2013.
Manke Lumber Company Inc. also was cited for 12 violations related to confined space hazards and was fined $14,400. Additional penalties totaling $57,720 were assessed for violations that included failing to guard moving parts on belt sanders, bandsaws, sprocket wheels, and pulleys; exposing workers to falls into unprotected holes and openings in the floor and open-sided elevated areas up to 10 feet; electrical hazards; failing to remove worn and damaged web slings from service; and not storing wood dust properly to prevent fire and/or explosion hazards.