Multiple employee injuries land manufacturer on OSHA’s severe violator list

A Georgia-based manufacturer is facing $503,380 in proposed penalties and has been deemed a severe violator of federal workplace safety rules after four separate reports of employee injuries.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected and cited the Chicago facility of Atlanta-based BWAY Corp. for five repeat and five serious safety violations, the agency said Monday in a statement. OSHA found one employee suffered two broken bones in his hand after it was crushed by a piece of equipment, while three other employees suffered amputations from unguarded chain and sprocket assemblies.

OSHA also placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which focuses on inspecting employers that the agency says have demonstrated indifference to their Occupational Safety and Health Act obligations through willful, repeated or failure-to-abate violations. In the past five years, 15 workers suffered amputations at the Chicago plant, according to the statement.

The agency issued repeated citations for failing to train workers in lockout/tagout procedures that prevent unintentional machine movement and inadequate machine guarding on a mechanical power press, belts and pulleys, and chains and sprockets. The five serious citations involve failing to lockout equipment prior to clearing jams and inadequate machine guarding on multiple pieces of equipment.

“Lack of machine safety guards and procedures contribute to multiple employee injuries nationwide each year,” Kathy Webb, OSHA area director in Chicago, said in the statement. “Companies must continuously monitor their facilities and review procedures and training to ensure employees are protected from machine hazards.”

A company spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comment.