Lumber company fined after worker suffers finger amputation

A Wisconsin lumber company is facing $260,113 in proposed fines from federal workplace safety regulators after a 24-year-old worker suffered the partial amputation of his right middle finger.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Marathon City, Wisconsin-based Menzner Lumber and Supply Co. for three repeat and seven serious safety violations after its investigation of the June 2016 injury, according to an agency press release issued on Dec. 28.

The investigators found multiple woodworking machines lacked adequate safeguards and that workers were not properly trained in isolating energy to machines to prevent contact with operating parts during set-up, servicing and maintenance, according to the release.

In previous investigations, OSHA learned that a machine severed a 25-year-old employee's left middle finger in April 2015 and a 34-year-old worker lost the tip of his right thumb in January 2015, when each came into contact with machine operating parts, according to the release.

"Despite earlier machine-related injuries, OSHA found several machines at the company lacked adequate safeguards to prevent workers from coming in contact with operating parts," Robert Bonack, OSHA's area director in Appleton, Wisconsin, said in a statement. "Menzner Lumber & Supply should immediately re-evaluate its safety and health programs and ensure their workers are properly trained."

A company spokesman declined to comment.