Syracuse, N.Y. -- A food ingredients manufacturer in Wolcott where a temporary employee's hand was severed last year is facing a $300,062 federal fine for safety violations.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it proposed the fine against Marshall Ingredients LLC, of 5740 Limekiln Road in the Wayne County town of Wolcott, for failing to protect employees against amputations and other hazards.
OSHA opened an inspection of the facility in July 2017 after an employee "suffered a hand amputation" when she reached into the rotating airlock of a food dryer while cleaning it. It cited the company for "willful and serious violations" for:
- Failing to provide machine guarding to protect employees from contact with operating machinery
- Failing to develop procedures and provide training on how to prevent the unexpected startup of machinery
- Exposing employees to fall, confined space, chemical, mechanical, electrical and combustible dust hazards
OSHA also cited a temporary-staffing agency, People Ready, with what it said were two "serious" violations of failing to provide hazardous energy control and fire extinguisher training. OSHA proposed penalties totaling $24,020 against People Ready.
"This incident could have been prevented had adequate machine guards been in place," Christopher Adams, OSHA's Syracuse area office director, said in a statement. "Employers have a responsibility to implement and maintain safeguards to protect their employees from amputation hazards."
The companies have 15 business days to pay the fines, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the indepenedent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
According to its website, Marshall specializes in all-natural dried fruit and vegetable products for both human and pet food.
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