The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a Portsmouth, Ohio, wood flooring company is facing more than $333,000 in fines after being cited for numerous safety violations.
According to an April 3 news release, Graf Custom Hardwood, an Appalachian Wood Floors Inc. company is being investigated by safety inspectors with DOL's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for the third time in five months, responding to reports of unsafe machinery.
“These preventable injuries demonstrate a blatant disregard for the safety of workers and a failure to train them on safety procedures,” OSHA Area Director Ken Montgomery said in the release. “Graf Custom Hardwood must immediately review their machines for adequate guarding and train their workers so they can operate the machines safely.”
The latest inspection held Oct. 5, 2022, found that a worker’s fingertip was partially amputated because it was caught in an unguarded belt and pulley, the release reported. Inspectors determined the company lacked guarding, safety procedures and training exposed employees to machine hazards.
Graf has been cited for six repeated and 12 serious safety violations, resulting in $333,693 in proposed penalties and being placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program, the release said.
Inspections conducted in May and July 2022 also found machine hazards and injuries related to a lack of guarding and safety procedures, according to the release. During the inspections, OSHA found machines lacked adequate guarding, trip hazards littered walking and working surfaces, unsafe electrical practices and workers were not trained on lockout/tagout procedures. The company informed OSHA of the injuries within 24 hours, as required.
OSHA noted employees required to clean, unjam and maintain equipment were not trained on lockout/tagout procedures nor were they provided hand tools to assist with unjamming machines, the release said. Many machines lacked adequate guarding, stairs lacked guard rails and workers were unable to safely exit and enter their workspaces due to debris littering the floor.
Graf has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the release said.
