A Jacksonville, Texas, manufacturer of wooden crates and pallets faces $248,866 in proposed penalties for what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration calls a “history of workplace safety violations” after a February inspection found the company exposed workers to amputation risks.
OSHA opened a fourth inspection of M&H Crates Inc. after receiving a complaint, and it determined that the company did not develop, document or use lockout/tagout procedures to prevent sudden machine starts. It also found the company failed to ensure required machine guards, exposing workers to hazards, including amputation, according to an announcement Thursday by the Department of Labor.
OSHA cited M&H Crates for serious and repeated violations for machinery safety hazards, housekeeping issues, and failure to provide hearing protection as required. OSHA had previously cited M&H Crates after inspections in 201
2, 2014 and 2020. In June 2020, inspectors investigated safety lapses after an employee cutting pallet boards suffered a finger amputation while using an unattended band saw, according to OSHA.The company has 15 working days to appeal the latest referrals.
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