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Tag: osha

  • Ashley Furniture: OSHA Proposes $431K Fine over Machine Safety

    Ashley Furniture, the country’s largest home decor retailer, has been cited by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration for “failing to protect workers from moving machine parts” at one of its manufacturing facilities.

    The violations allegedly occurred at a factory in Wisconsin.

    “Workers risked amputation injuries each time they serviced the machinery,” said Mark Hysell, OSHA’s area director in Eau Claire. “Ashley Furniture failed to implement required safety procedures to protect machine operators until after OSHA opened its inspection. The company must make immediate, enforceable safety improvements at its facilities nationwide.”

    OSHA has proposed $431,000 in fines.

    “The agency determined that the company failed to implement procedures to prevent machines from unintentional start-up when operators changed blades, cleaned machines and cleared jams exposing workers to dangerous machine operating parts. The company failed to have operators use locking devices to prevent unexpected machine movement, a procedure known as lockout/tagout. This violation is among OSHA’s most frequently cited and often results in death or permanent disability,” says OSHA.

    This isn’t the first time OSHA has flagged Ashley Furniture in recent history. In January, the company was cited for 38 violations. OSHA proposed nearly $1.8 million in fines.

    Ashley Furniture called OSHA’s allegations “outrageous”.

    “The claim that Ashley failed to protect its workers from moving machine parts is outrageous. At all times, Ashley has machine guards in place that are provided by the manufacturer and, in some cases, the company has gone beyond what manufacturers put in place by installing additional guards and implementing special procedures to protect workers,” the company said in a statement.

  • College Student Found Dead in Restaurant Dumbwaiter

    A 21-year-old gymnast and college student was found dead inside of a Wisconsin restaurant’s dumbwaiter Monday night, though no foul play has been suspected.

    Fountain City police responded to a call from the WingDam Bar and Saloon at around 8 p.m. There they discovered Brooke Baures, a waitress at the restaurant, unresponsive inside of the kitchen food elevator. Police Chief Jason Mork commented that the dumbwaiter’s opening is roughly three feet by three feet.

    The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department stated that there is no initial indication of foul play, but an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of death.

    Baures attended Winona State University, and was studying social work. She was also a member of their gymnastics team from 2011 to 2014.

    Eric Schoh, WSU Athletic Director said in a statement, “Brooke was a leader on that team and a very talented gymnast. This is a tremendous loss for our community, and we ask that you keep Brooke and her family, friends, coaches and teammates in your thoughts.”

    According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), only two dumbwaiter incidents, both fatal, have occurred in the U.S. between 2003 and 2013.

  • Donaldsonville Explosion Leaves 1 Dead, 7 Injured

    An explosion at a plant in Donaldsonville, Louisiana yesterday left one person dead and seven more injured, according to local authorities.

    The explosion occurred at the CF Industries Nitrogen Complex. The explosion appeared to have been caused by a ruptured liquid nitrogen vessel. The plant’s general manager, Lou Frey, said that the section of the plant where the vessel ruptured had been closed for maintenance, and that there was no fire.

    The plant manufactures ammonia and nitrogen fertilizers, though officials said there were no hazardous materials on site at the time of the explosion.

    Fifty-five year old Ronald “Rocky” Morris of Belle Rose, Louisiana was killed in the explosion. Morris had worked at the plant for 34 years.

    Local sheriff Jeff Wiley said that the incident posed no hazard to the area surrounding the plant, and that no chemicals had been released into the atmosphere during the explosion.

    This is not the first such incident at this plant. In May 2000 an explosion left three people dead and eight injured. An OSHA investigation into that incident discovered 14 health and safety violations, 12 described as “serious.” The agency hit CF Industries with almost $150,000 in fines due to that incident.

    Earlier today authorities confirmed that OSHA would be conducting an investigation into this incident as well. They are expected to arrive this weekend and begin their investigation as soon as the plant is deemed safe.

    The Donaldsonville explosion was the second such incident in the area in as many days. An explosion at a plant in nearby Geismar, Louisiana left two dead and over 100 injured.