An Ohio automotive carpet manufacturer was cited by OSHA when a worker’s finger was partially severed while cleaning near operating machine parts.
OSHA inspectors found that the worker was exposed to the parts as they cleared excess fiber material off chains, sprockets and other equipment.
The agency said that the company didn’t provide or require the use of machine specific lockout procedures. Further, employees were also allowed to walk inside and around equipment removing excess fiber to prevent machine clogs during the manufacture of carpet underlayment.
The company was cited for similar violations in four previous investigations from 2019 to 2023.
Fine: $234,376
Company: UGN Inc., Monroe, Ohio
Business: Other motor vehicle parts manufacturing
Reasons for fine:
Three repeat violations for failing to:
- develop and use procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy
- ensure employees followed procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy during cleaning activities
- provide employees with training on how to control energy sources prior to the start of cleaning operations
Four serious violations for failing to:
- ensure employees used proper PPE to prevent burns while working around hot air injection and burner boxes
- conduct periodic inspections of energy control procedures
- provide adequate machine guarding on several fiber injection lines
- adequately guard sprockets and chains that were less than 7 feet above work platforms
