February 4, 2010

OSHA proposes $59,250 in penalties against C&W Industries for willful and serious safety and health violations.

U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA is proposing $59,250 in penalties against C&W Industries in Union Springs, Alabama for health and safety violations.

OSHA started its inspection August of 2009 after receiving a complaint of a number of deficiencies at the plant including unguarded machinery that exposes workers to amputation hazards. Other complaints included insufficient training and certification for forklift operators, and deficiencies in the plants fire prevention system.

OSHA cited the company with one willful safety violation with a $38,500 penalty for failing to protect workers from caught-in and amputation hazards while cleaning, changing dies and performing maintenance on press machines. The inspection revealed the employer had failed to implement lockout tagout procedures to prevent accidental energy start-up despite being aware of its obligation to institute such a program.

"Workers should not have to risk amputations in order to earn a paycheck," said Kurt Petermeyer, director of OSHA's Mobile Area Office. "Company management was aware of the requirements to establish a lockout program and did not take action."