Federal investigators have determined that inadequate safety measures at John’s Disposal Service Inc. and John’s Recycling Inc. in Franksville, Wisconsin, led to severe injuries for a temporary maintenance worker in January 2024. The worker's jacket sleeve was pulled into an engine while servicing a vehicle.
Following the incident report, inspectors from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) visited the facility and found that the employer had not implemented necessary energy control procedures before the worker began servicing the vehicle.
“A worker suffered severe injuries because their employer failed to implement an effective safety and health program and develop specific energy control procedures to protect workers conducting repairs on vehicles,” stated OSHA Area Director Dustin Schnipke in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “Employers are responsible for training their workers and taking all necessary precautions to protect them from known hazards.”
The investigation led OSHA to conduct two follow-up inspections at the Franksville facility to ensure previously cited hazards from 2023 had been addressed. The company was cited for two serious violations related to lacking energy control procedures, as well as repeated failures identified in 2023:
- Not providing fall protection on an elevated platform.
- Failing to train forklift operators.
- Not providing hazard communication training.
Additionally, OSHA noted deficiencies such as the absence of a hearing conservation program and insufficient machine guards on moving conveyors, motor shafts, and a grinder.
In total, John’s Disposal and John’s Recycling were cited for five repeat violations, five serious violations, and three other-than-serious violations. OSHA proposed penalties amounting to $367,401.
John’s Disposal Service Inc., founded in 1969 and headquartered in Whitewater, employs approximately 300 people with facilities in Franksville and Brookfield.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply with OSHA's findings, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
