|
U.S. Department of Labor | |
||||
| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
 |
|
OSHA News Release
2003 - 06/10/2003 - OSHA Cites Alabama Lumber Company for Machine Guarding Hazards that Contributed to Worker Fatality |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
|
Region 4 News Release ATL: 03-124 Tues., June 10, 2003 Contact: Lisa Strunk Jo Anne Burgoyne Phone: (205) 731-1534 ext 0 (404)562-2076 OSHA Cites Alabama Lumber Company for Machine Guarding Hazards that Contributed to Worker Fatality Proposed Penalties Total More Than $43,000 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Pate Lumber Company, Inc., of Carrollton, Ala., and proposed $43,400 in penalties for failing to protect workers from "caught and crush" hazards at the company's saw mill. A Pate employee died at the facility on Feb. 7, after feed rollers at a conveyor caught his clothing and pulled him into a tree bark removal machine. The agency issued 15 serious citations, which included charges of: failure to guard saw blades, rotary knives, belts, pulleys, chains, sprockets and points where raw material enters a machine; failure to use lockout-tagout procedures that would have rendered the machinery inoperative; and failure to label control switches. "Machine guards could have prevented this tragedy," said Robert Sanchez, OSHA's Birmingham area director. "OSHA is committed to reducing hazards from unguarded machinery, a major cause of death and amputation in the workplace." The company was also cited for exposing workers to falls and electrical hazards, two other leading causes of worker death and injury. OSHA issues serious citations when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result and that the employer knew or should have known of the hazard. The company has 15 working days to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The fatality investigation was conducted by OSHA's Birmingham office located at Todd Mall, 2047 Canyon Rd, Vestavia Hills; phone: (205) 731-1534. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries and illnesses, and protecting America's workers. Safety and health add value to business, the workplace and life. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. # # #
|
|
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
 Back to Top |
www.osha.gov | www.dol.gov |
Contact Us | Freedom of Information Act | Customer Survey Privacy and Security Statement | Disclaimers |
||
| Occupational Safety & Health Administration 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 |
||
