OSHA Finds Workers Exposed to More than Two Dozen Serious Violations at Sawmill
Kenneth Snider Inc. has been fined $59,000 for the violations.
Kenneth Snider Inc., has been cited by OSHA for one willful, 24 serious and two other-than-serious violations for violations found at a Princeton, W.Va., sawmill. An investigation initiated last fall in response to a complaint was conducted as part of the agency's national emphasis program for amputations. A total of $59,000 in penalties have been proposed.
According to the agency's announcement, OSHA observed employees working within inches of an unguarded saw, which led to the willful violation. The company was also cited for having a hearing conservation program for employees exposed to noise above the permissible limit over an eight-hour period.
"It only takes a second for a worker to make contact with a machine that isn't properly guarded and suffer a serious injury that could have been prevented," said Prentice Cline, director of OSHA's Charleston Area Office. "When an employer like Kenneth Snider Inc. allows more than 50 workplace safety violations to exist, it is clear the company is disregarding its obligation to provide workers with a safe and healthy work environment. They will be held accountable for their lack of compliance."