Kingspan Benchmark faces $67,900 in OSHA penalties for exposing workers to amputation hazards at Columbus, Ohio, manufacturing facility

Employer name: Kingspan Insulated Panels operating as Kingspan Benchmark

Investigation site: 720 Marion Road, Columbus, Ohio

Corporate address: 726 Summerhill Drive, Deland, Florida

On Sept. 29, 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Columbus Area Office initiated an inspection of Kingspan Benchmark under the National Emphasis Program for Amputation, after receiving an employee complaint of unsafe working conditions. The company manufactures insulated metal wall panels for commercial buildings at this site.

Investigation findings: Eight serious violations were cited related to amputation hazards and electrical safety.

OSHA's investigation found that workers were exposed to amputation and other serious injuries from operating parts of machinery where guards were missing or not properly installed. Additionally, procedures were not implemented to prevent unintentional operation of machinery during service and maintenance, which put workers at risk for injury from moving machinery parts.

Employees were also exposed to energized wires because an electrical junction box did not have a cover to prevent contact, and flexible cords did not have strain relief.

Two repeated violations were cited for failing to train workers in fire extinguisher use and properly record injuries and illnesses for calendar year 2014. The company was previously cited for these violations in 2011 in Deland, Florida, and 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. OSHA issues repeated violations if an employer was previously cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states in the last five years.

Proposed Penalties: $67,900

Quote: "Amputation hazards remain one of the leading causes of injuries in manufacturing facility and are among the most frequently cited by OSHA," said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA's area director in Columbus. "Companies such as Kingspan Benchmark have a morale and legal obligation to properly train workers and to ensure machinery is operated in a safe manner. This company needs to make immediate improvements at this facility."

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 Columbus Area Office at 614-469-5582.