Workers Exposed to Amputation Hazard at Wood Crate and Pallet Facility, Officials Say

Workers Exposed to Amputation Hazard at Wood Crate and Pallet Facility, Officials Say

The company was cited for serious and repeat violations.

  • By Alex Saurman
  • Aug 05, 2022

Workers at a Texas facility were exposed to amputation hazards, OSHA says.

According to a press release, M&H Crates Inc. “failed to ensure machine guarding,” leaving workers exposed to this hazard and others. OSHA also found the company did not have procedures for lockout/tagout.

Following the February 2022 inspection, initiated after a complaint was filed, the wood crate and pallet manufacturer was cited for serious and repeat violations. OSHA proposed penalties of $248,866.

In the past, M&H Crates Inc. was cited after other inspections. In 2020, OSHA inspected the company after a worker had a finger amputated. OSHA found the saw the worker was using did not have guarding.

“M&H Crates Inc. continues to expose its employees to dangerous workplace hazards by ignoring required federal safety standards,” explained OSHA Area Director Basil Singh in Dallas in the press release. “These safeguards can be the difference between ending a shift safely and suffering a serious and life-altering injury. M&H Crates must develop and implement a company culture where worker safety and health is a priority.”

Lockout/tagout and machine guarding are some of the most frequent OSHA citations.

About the Author

Alex Saurman is a former Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety,who has since joined OH&S’s client services team. She continues to work closely with OH&S’s editorial team and contributes to the magazine.

Product Showcase

  • Preventative Heat Safety

    Dehydration and heat exposure impair physical and cognitive performance. Proper hydration boosts heat stress resilience, but hydration needs are highly individualized and hard to predict across a workforce. Connected Hydration® empowers industrial athletes to stay safe through behavioral interventions, informed by sports science, and equips safety teams with critical insights to anticipate high-risk situations and adapt to evolving environmental factors. Curious about applying the latest in sports science based hydration strategies for industrial athletes? Stop by booth #1112 at AIHA or schedule a free demo today at https://epcr.cc/demo. 3

  • Glove Guard® Clip

    Safety should never be compromised, especially when it comes to proper glove usage. The Glove Guard® clip enhances safety by encouraging employees to keep their gloves with them at all times. This reduces the risk of accidents and injuries on the job. By ensuring everyone has their gloves readily available, we help promote a culture of safety and efficiency. The Glove Guard® clip is designed to withstand the toughest work environments. Constructed from robust materials made in the USA, it can endure extreme conditions, including harsh weather, and rigorous activities. 3

  • Safety Knives

    The Safety Knife Company has developed a quality range of safety knives for all industries. Designed so that fingers cannot get to the blades, these knives will safely cut through cardboard, tape, strapping, shrink or plastic wrap or a variety of other packing materials. Because these knives have no exposed blades and only cut cardboard deep, they will not only protect employees against lacerations but they will also save product. The Metal Detectable versions have revolutionary metal detectable polypropylene knife bodies specifically for the food and pharmaceutical industries. This material can be detected and rejected by typical detection machines and is X-ray visible. 3

Featured

Most   Popular

Webinars