Companies Cited Over Amputation Dangers

Tuesday, June 14, 2022 | 0

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Friday announced citations to two companies over amputation risks and other violations that posed serious injuries to workers.  

OSHA is proposing $190,758 in penalties against Swainsboro, Georgia-based Place Vendome Holding Co. Inc., a pillow manufacturer, which inspectors say has repeatedly exposed workers to hazards. OSHA has documented four recent injuries in 2021, three of which were amputations, that occurred since an earlier 2020 inspection.  

Following a November 2021 inspection, OSHA also cited Place Vendome with seven repeat-serious violations for obstructing exit routes, failing to post well-lit signs identifying exit routes and stacking materials in unstable or unsecured tiers. OSHA also cited the company for failing to mount or keep fire extinguishers accessible and train workers who are designated to use fire extinguishers.

In a separate announcement, OSHA cited an Imler, Pennsylvania-based metal buildings’ manufacturer for willfully exposing employees to amputation hazards following a worker's serious injury. Corle Building Systems Inc. is facing $154,143 in proposed penalties after a worker suffered the partial amputation of one finger and an injury to a second one while cleaning a machine in January.  

That company was cited for a willful violation for inadequate machine guarding. The agency also cited the company for four serious violations for failing to develop lockout/tagout procedures to prevent unexpected machine start-up, perform an annual review of its lockout/tagout program and ensure the machine was locked out before workers began cleaning it.

Both companies have 15 days to contest the citations.

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