Industry News

Carpet manufacturer fined $234K after worker suffers partial finger amputation

Feb. 1, 2024

An OSHA investigation has determined that UGN Inc. exposed its employees to operating machine parts as they cleared excess fiber material off chains, sprockets, and other equipment.

Alexis Gajewski

An OSHA investigation has determined that UGN Inc. exposed its employees to operating machine parts as they cleared excess fiber material off chains, sprockets, and other equipment. The investigation began after a worker suffered a partial finger amputation at the automotive carpet manufacturer’s Ohio facility. According to OSHA, the company did not require the use of machine-specific lockout procedures for machinery that featured rotating drums, hot air boxes, burn boxes, chains and sprockets. Workers freely walked inside manufacturing cells, which were only enclosed on three sides, as they removed excess fiber to prevent machine clogs.

UGN was cited for three repeat and four serious violations. These violations include failing to implement machine guarding, not requiring machine safety procedures, and failing to provide employees with heat-resistant PPE. The company faces $234,376 in penalties, in addition to being placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

In a recent quote, OSHA Area Director Ken Montgomery said, “In the past three years, employees of UGN have suffered several recordable injuries from machinery, including burns, broken bones, and now an amputation because the company continues to task workers with contacting machinery while it is in operation. UGN’s continued failure to implement machine safety procedures led to OSHA placing them in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program, allowing us to expand our enforcement efforts to ensure this company is meeting its legal responsibility to protect workers on the job.”

About the Author

Alexis Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector.