Several Ohio manufacturing and construction companies have drawn the close scrutiny of inspectors from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) over the past several months, with each being given citations for safety violations. Collectively, the companies were assessed more than a quarter million dollars in fines for the part OHSA investigators say they played in various construction accident incidents and other work-related injuries.
Most recently, truck manufacturer Stahl/Scott Fetzer Co. was cited for six safety violations, including one willful infraction, in an equipment accident this past March at its Wooster plant, in which a worker lost several fingers while operating a piece of machinery. One month later, and following OHSHA’s inspection of the plant, another worker suffered a second amputation injury.
Stahl/Scott was fined $90,000 for those two incidents, with OSHA noting that the company has been cited for nearly 50 other violations in previous inspections.
In May, OSHA cited a North Royalton-based company — DiGioia-Suburban Excavating — for implementing inadequate safety protections while employees were working in a trench. The company was fined nearly $124,000. Pursuant to the fine, OSHA also noted the 46 violations the company has received in multiple inspections since 1989.
Several other Ohio companies have also been cited and fined within the past several months for a number of wide-ranging safety violations, including failure to properly train employees in using equipment in a way that maximally guards against electrical and burn injuries.
An experienced Ohio construction accident attorney can answer questions concerning a work-related accident or injury and provide vigorous representation in any accident-related claim.
Source: Norwalk Reflector, “Company faces $90,000 fine after two workers suffer finger amputations at plant,” June 21, 2012