The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued citations to Eastern Wire Products in Jacksonville, Fla., for one repeated, 13 serious and two other-than-serious safety violations.
OSHA began an investigation after learning an Eastern Wire employee suffered a workplace injury that required hospitalization. On Jan. 5, 2016, the 37-year-old machine operator was attempting to remove a piece of jammed wire when the machine caught his finger. The tip of the worker’s right index finger was amputated. OSHA has established a National Emphasis Program on Amputations to identify and reduce workplace amputation hazards.
Eastern Wire also exposed workers to electrical hazards from unprotected circuits and wiring. Other violations include not labeling hazardous chemicals. The agency cited Eastern Wire for repeatedly exposing workers to unguarded machine parts and equipment. The employer was previously cited for this same violation in 2011 at this facility.
The serious citations relate to the employer’s failure to develop procedures to prevent machinery from starting up during maintenance and servicing, and not ensuring proper stacking of 55-gallon drums to prevent them from falling on workers.
“Our inspection found numerous machine guarding and electrical hazards that expose workers to serious injury or death,” said Brian Sturtecky, OSHA’s area director in the Jacksonville Office. “Eastern Wire cannot wait for another incident to happen or an OSHA inspection, to address the safety hazards that exist at this facility.”
OSHA has proposed a penalty of $41,504.
