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OSHA fines Ohio tile maker, deems severe violator of safety rules

Posted On: Dec. 22, 2017 11:48 AM CST

OSHA fines Ohio tile maker, deems severe violator of safety rules

U.S. federal workplace safety regulators have issued proposed fines totaling $514,236 against an Ohio manufacturer of luxury vinyl tile and deemed the company a severe violator of workplace safety regulations.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Fostoria, Ohio-based Nox US L.L.C. for machine safety violations after responding to two separate reports of employee injuries in June 2017, according to an agency statement issued Thursday. One employee required surgery after his hand was crushed in a tile machine. Less than two weeks later, another employee suffered partial amputations of two fingers while working on a recycle material system.

OSHA cited the company for failing to use adequate lockout/tagout procedures and devices to prevent unintentional machine movement, failure to train employees and exposing employees to fall hazards, according to the statement.

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.

“When dangerous machines are not properly guarded or de-energized, employees face an increased risk of serious injuries,” said Kim Nelson, OSHA area office director based in Toledo, Ohio. “Employers must monitor their facilities continuously to ensure workplace safety and health procedures are adequate and effective.”

“We have just received the documents and are reviewing them at this time,” a company spokeswoman said.