Mulch Manufacturer Faces $148,867 Fine for Amputation and Struck-By Hazards

Monday, February 24, 2020 | 0

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined a Georgia mulch manufacturer $148,867 for allegedly exposing its workers to amputations and other safety hazards.

OSHA cited Garick LLC — operating as Smith Garden Products — for failing to make sure control procedures list specific steps to limit the release of hazardous energy. 

The company's machines and equipment were not protected from energy sources, and employees were not trained to recognize when the energy becomes a hazard, OSHA said in a statement. There was also no annual inspection of the lockout/tagout program in place.

The manufacturer was also cited for failing to guard machinery, continued use of defective industrial trucks and failing to reduce compressed air to an appropriate level before allowing employees to use it for cleaning purposes. 

OSHA conducted the inspection of Garick's facility in Cumming in accordance with the National Emphasis Program on Amputations and the Regional Emphasis Program for Powered Industrial Trucks.

Garick has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with an OSHA area director or contest the findings.