Worker suffers partial arm amputation, hardwood flooring manufacturer fined $256K
An OSHA investigation has determined that Appalachian Wood Floors Inc., operating as Graf Custom Hardwood, could have prevented the severe injury of a 23-year-old worker. The incident occurred at the company’s Charles Street facility while the employee was troubleshooting a rip saw machine. According to the agency, the saw’s safety device was bypassed. The worker then became entangled in the machines’ rotating blades, causing them to suffer a partial arm amputation.
This is not the first time the hardwood flooring manufacturer has violated federal safety standards. The company’s Campbell Avenue facility has been inspected five times since 2022 and has been cited for recurring safety violations. Additionally, the Charles Street facility was cited for machine safety violations in 2022.
During this most recent inspection, Appalachian Wood Floors was cited for eight repeat, two serious, and four other-than-serious violations. These violations include:
- Failing to adequately train employees on lockout/tagout procedures
- Not mandating the use of lockout/tagout when troubleshooting machines, changing blades, cleaning rollers, and changing colors
- Multiple electrical safety violations
- Failing to train employees on proper forklift usage
The company faces $255,528 in proposed penalties.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, OSHA Area Director Ken Montogomery said, “A preventable tragedy has left a young man with a permanent, life-altering injury. Bypassing machine safety procedures puts workers at extreme risk. Appalachian Wood Floors must make worker safety a priority by ensuring proper training, enforcing safety standards, and maintaining machine safety guards to prevent future incidents.”
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