OSHA opened an investigation of MP Global Products LLC after a 65-year-old temporary worker suffered an amputation of one finger and serious damage to another when his left hand was caught in a machine. OSHA learned that the Norfolk, Neb., flooring materials company threatened to fire employees who complained about unsafe working conditions and attempted to hide from inspectors machines that lacked safety guards. “MP Global shut down an entire production line, turned the lights off and herded employees into the back room where they were instructed to remain during OSHA’s inspection,” said Jeff Funke, OSHA’s area director in Omaha. “This was a willful attempt to prevent inspectors form discovering numerous machine safety violations in the plant. Knowingly requiring workers to operate unsafe machinery and threatening their jobs for reporting unsafe work practices are illegal and shameful activities,” Funke said. The company was cited for 25 willful, serious and other-than-serious safety violations with proposed penalties of $244,000, and placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program. For more information, read the news release.

For more information or assistance with your Environmental and Health & Safety regulatory compliance needs, contact Ralph Carito at Total Environmental & Safety, LLC (Total) at rcarito@TotalEnviron.com or 908-442-8599.