OSHA Cites Manufacturer $258,271 for Safety Violations

Thursday, March 19, 2020 | 0

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Monahan Filaments in Arcola, Illinois, $258,271 for violating machine safety standards after an employee was severely injured.

OSHA received an employer-reported referral from Monahan Filaments after moving machine parts caused fractures and third-degree burns to an employee's hand on Sept. 20, 2019, during production line setup.

Following the inspection, OSHA cited two willful violations for failure to control hazardous energy sources. The company was also cited for inadequate machine guarding on rotating parts and ingoing nip points.

The federal workplace safety agency also said Monahan was cited for a repeat violation for not training employees to perform energy control procedures during setup operations.

OSHA also said it placed the company, which manufactures synthetic filaments for brushes and brooms, in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program, making it subject to additional follow-up inspections.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings.