OSHA cited an Ohio industrial hose manufacturer for multiple violations related to machine guarding, electrical hazards and lockout/tagout procedures.
Inspectors began their investigation following a complaint filed in October 2023 over safety concerns at a Bellefontaine, Ohio plant.
At the same time, OSHA was still investigating a June 2023 incident at the same facility that severely injured a 25-year-old employee. That inspection resulted in a $389,534 fine.
The October inspection marked the eighth OSHA inspection at the plant since 2013.
Fine: $321,489
Company: HBD Thermoid Inc., Bellefontaine, Ohio
Business: Rubber and plastics hoses and belting manufacturing
Reasons for fine:
One willful violation for failing to:
- provide one or more methods of machine guarding to protect employees from points of operation and ingoing nip points
11 serious violations for failing to:
- ensure that energy control procedures covered actions that needed to be done in sequence
- provide one or more methods of machine guarding to protect employees from points of operation and ingoing nip points (separate instance from willful violation)
- guard revolving drums, barrels or containers
- enclose exposed parts of horizontal shafts 7 feet or less from working platforms
- close unused openings in electrical cabinets
- provide covers for electrical junction boxes
- provide strain relief on electrical cords connected to equipment
- ensure that electrical cords were used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap
- train employees exposed to electrical hazards on proper use of electrical PPE
- employ safety-related work practices to prevent electric shocks
- ensure that employees exposed to electrical hazards wore appropriate PPE
Two other-than serious violations for failing to:
- install labeled electrical equipment in accordance with instructions on the label
- ensure that electrical equipment was free from damaged parts that could adversely affect safe operation