Ohio’s Ameriwood Industries Fined $60K for Safety Violations

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Ameriwood Industries Inc., a wood furniture manufacturer in Tiffin, Ohio, with two alleged serious and two alleged repeat safety violations for failing to train employees in safe work practices and require them to wear proper safety equipment when working on electrical panels. Proposed penalties total $60,000.

OSHA began its inspection in June, resulting in the issuance of two repeat violations for failing to train workers in proper safety procedures, and to ensure workers wore fire resistant clothing and voltage-rated protective gloves when working on 480-volt electrical panels. Those citations carry penalties of $50,000.

The company also received two serious citations for failing to implement safety-related work practices and require employees to wear personal face protection gear when working on electrical panels, resulting in an additional $10,000 in fines.

Ameriwood Industries Inc. was cited by OSHA in 2009 with 12 violations for exposing workers to hazardous dust, a lack of training, failing to ensure employees wore personal protective equipment, and failing to implement and train employees in lockout/tagout procedures of energy sources. The 2009 case was settled informally and the company paid $70,725 in penalties.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA