OSHA Cites Delaware Company in Amputation Case
OSHA personnel inspected the facility in December 2017 after an employee suffered an injury while using an improperly guarded punch press and had three fingers subsequently amputated.
OSHA has cited Wilmington Fibre Specialty Company Inc. for exposing employees at its New Castle, Del., facility to workplace safety hazards. The company faces $146,152 in proposed penalties, according to the agency's July 25 news release.
It says OSHA personnel inspected the facility in December 2017 after an employee suffered an injury while using an improperly guarded punch press and had three fingers subsequently amputated. OSHA cited the company for inadequate machine guarding and failing to use lockout/tagout procedures to control hazardous energy, as well a failing to report the incident and previous amputations to OSHA as required.
"Companies must monitor their facilities to ensure workplace health and safety procedures are adequate and effective," said OSHA Wilmington Area Office Director Erin G. Patterson. "When lockout/tagout is not implemented and machines are not guarded, employees are exposed to hazards that can cause amputations, and other serious injuries."