OSHA fines McKinney, Texas, manufacturer of wooden spool reels Lone Star Reel US$148,400 for 10 safety violations over failing to guard machinery, exposing workers to amputation hazards

Audrey Dixon

Audrey Dixon

DALLAS , August 13, 2013 (press release) – Lone Star Reel Corp. fined $148,400 for 10 safety violations

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Lone Star Reel Corp. in McKinney with 10 safety violations, including two willful. Proposed penalties total $148,400 for failing to guard machinery and exposing workers to amputation hazards.

OSHA's Dallas Area Office began its programmed inspection, aimed at specific high-hazard industries, in February at the company's Throckmorton Street facility. The two willful safety violations were cited for failing to provide workers with documented procedures on how to control potentially hazardous energy sources during machine or equipment maintenance and ensure that points of machine operations were guarded to prevent the exposure of any body parts in the danger zone during operation cycles. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.

"By failing to guard machinery, Lone Star Reel is exposing workers to possibly losing fingers, hands, feet or other body parts. That negligence will not be tolerated," said Stephen Boyd, OSHA's area director in Dallas. "It is the employer's responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace for its workers, and OSHA will hold them accountable."

The eight serious violations cited involve failing to ensure that dust collectors have proper explosion protection; ensure that all passageways, storerooms and service rooms were kept in a clean and orderly condition; ensure that energy control procedures were developed, documented and utilized; ensure that materials were stored in a stable or secure manner; ensure that powered industrial trucks were not used in the presence of combustible dust; ensure that one or more methods of machine guarding were provided to protect workers; ensure that unused openings in cabinets, boxes and fittings were closed; and ensure that equipment in hazardous locations were approved for the class of location due to the presence of combustible dust. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Lone_Star_Reel_Corporation_881644_0812_13.pdf*

Lone Star Reel Corp. is a miscellaneous wood manufacturer that produces wooden spool reels. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Dallas area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Dallas office at 214-320-2400.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.

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