Search

Machine Guarding Accident Results in Hand Amputation and Civil Penalty

Posted on 8/2/2021 by Lauren Scott

A 21-year-old metal worker suffered a partial hand amputation during his third week at a metal manufacturing facility after protective guards were removed from a sheet metal cutting machine, according to OSHA.

An investigation by the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found the metal roofing company from Trenton, FL allegedly removed protective guards from the machine because the guards caused imperfections to newly manufactured roofing panels.

As a result, OSHA issued a $122,879 citation to the company for allegedly allowing the guards to be removed, a “willful” violation according to OSHA. OSHA defines a “willful” violation as “a violation in which the employer either knowingly failed to comply with a legal requirement or acted with plain indifference to employee safety.”

The company has until August 12 to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.


Machine Guarding: A Top 10 OSHA Violation 

Machine guarding (29 CFR 1910.212) is consistently one of OSHA’s top-cited safety violations year after year.
OSHA requires employers to identify workplace machinery that can cause injury to an employee. Machine injuries can occur at the point of operation, from rotating and/or moving parts, or from flying chips or sparks.

Machine guarding was number 10 on OSHA’s most recent list of top safety violations, with 1,313 violations cited in 2020.
 

OSHA Safety, Hazmat and HAZWOPER Training Anytime, Anywhere

From lockout/tagout and respirators to hazard communication and lithium batteries, find safety training you need to protect your staff and maintain compliance with OSHA safety standards in 29 CFR at Lion.com/OSHA. 

Courses are interactive and self-paced, and employees can stop and start as needed to fit training into their day-to-day work schedules.

Tags: fines, machine guarding, osha, OSHA compliance, penalties, safety

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Lion's online training is more comprehensive, has better slides, and is a superior training experience than what I would get from other trainers.

Robert Brenner

District Environmental Manager

Lion Technology workshops are amazing!! You always learn so much, and the instructors are fantastic.

Dorothy Rurak

Environmental Specialist

The instructor created a great learning environment.

Avinash Thummadi

CAD & Environmental Manager

Energetic/enthusiastic! Made training enjoyable, understandable and fun!

Amanda Walsh

Hazardous Waste Professional

Lion does a great job summarizing and communicating complicated EH&S-related regulations.

Michele Irmen

Sr. Environmental Engineer

The instructor took a rather drab set of topics and brought them to life with realistic real-life examples.

Tom Berndt

HSE Coordinator

The instructor was very knowledgeable and provided pertinent information above and beyond the questions that were asked.

Johnny Barton

Logistics Coordinator

My experience with Lion training, both online and in the classroom, is that they are far better organized and provide a better sequential explanation of the material.

Robert Roose

Manager, Dangerous Goods Transportation

I really enjoy your workshops. Thank you for such a great program and all the help Lion has provided me over the years!

George Chatman

Hazardous Material Pharmacy Technician

These are the best commercial course references I have seen (10+ years). Great job!

Ed Grzybowski

EHS & Facility Engineer

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Find out what makes DOT hazmat training mandatory for employees who sign the hazardous waste manifest, a “dually regulated” document for tracking shipments.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.