Investigation After Worker Death Leads to Citations, Proposed Penalties of $337K for Company
The waste disposal company was cited for 18 citations and was placed in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
- By Alex Saurman
- Aug 10, 2022
An OSHA investigation led to 18 citations and a proposed penalty of over $337,000 for one employer.
According to a press release, OSHA initiated an investigation at Mid-Nebraska Disposal Inc. in Grand Island, Nebraska, following the fatal injury of a worker. The 20-year-old worker was attempting to clear a jammed cardboard bailer when they fell in and suffered amputation injuries. The worker died in the hospital. The bailer's energy sources were allegedly not locked out, OSHA said.
Following the investigation, OSHA cited Mid-Nebraska Disposal Inc. for two willful violations, 15 serious violations and one other-than-serious violation. The citations for the waste disposal company included machine safety, permit-required confined spaces, exposing workers to multiple hazards, including fall and caught between hazards, and training, the press release said. OSHA proposed penalties of $337,903 and placed the company in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
"A 20-year-old's life was cut short needlessly; he was on the job for just nine months. Employers are legally obligated to safeguard dangerous machinery and use required safety procedures for entering confined spaces," said OSHA Area Director Matt Thurlby in Omaha, Nebraska, in the press release. "Employers must follow all safety precautions and train workers to de-energize and lock out a machine before clearing jams or providing service or maintenance to prevent serious or fatal injuries."