Houston machine shop cited by US Department of Labor's OSHA for 13 safety violations for exposing workers to amputation hazards

Dimensional Machine Works LLC fined $57,750

HOUSTON — Dimensional Machine Works LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 13 safety violations, including seven repeat, for continuing to expose workers to possible amputation hazards by failing to guard rotating machinery parts and implement lockout/tagout procedures to protect workers who service or maintain machines. Proposed penalties total $57,750. The inspection began in July under OSHA's National Emphasis Program on Amputations.

"By failing to guard machinery properly, Dimensional Machine Works continues to put workers in harm's way. Unguarded machinery has the potential to amputate body parts and, even more devastating, end a worker's life. This continued lack of adherence to OSHA standards will not be tolerated," said David Doucet, OSHA's area director in Houston North.

The seven repeat violations, with a penalty of $46,200, were cited for failing to provide the following: procedures to protect workers who service and maintain dangerous machines; guards for rotating machine parts; a written hazard communication program; and complete safety data sheets. A repeat violation is issued when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Similar violations were cited in a 2009 inspection at the same facility.

The remaining six violations, including three serious with a penalty of $11,550, were cited for failing to guard conveyors, chains and sprockets on bench grinders. The employer failed to provide forklift training, chemical labeling and hazard communication training. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Dimensional Machine Works, which employs about 37 workers, has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Houston North area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742), or the agency's Houston North Area Office at 281-520-6171 or Houston South Area Office at 281-286-0583.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.