OSHA cites Colorado mattress spring manufacturer with willful, serious citations following worker injury at its Colorado Springs plant

Employer name: L&P Springs Manufacturing LLC, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Citations issued: Jan. 27, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an inspection on Oct.15, 2015 after an employee was hospitalized for serious injuries that occurred after being pulled into a machine that compresses, rolls, and wraps finished innerspring pads. Following the inspection, OSHA issued citations for one willful and one serious violation. The willful violation was cited for exposing workers to crushing hazards while working with manufacturing equipment that was not properly guarded. The serious citation was issued for failing to train workers effectively on the use and limitations of work gloves when working with manufacturing equipment and moving material.

Proposed Penalties: $77,000

Quote: “Injuries from improperly guarded machines are preventable and yet L&P failed to provide these guards to protect its workers,” said David Nelson, OSHA’s Area Director in Englewood, Colorado. “The best way to stop these injuries is to equip machinery with the proper guards according to OSHA standards.”

Background: Since Jan. 1, 2015, OSHA record-keeping requirements obligate employers to report within 24 hours to OSHA the hospitalization of one or more employees, an amputation or an eye loss. 

Link to the citations: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/LandPSpringsManf.pdf

Information: L&P manufactures components and products for the bedding industry. The company has 15 business days from receipt of their citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s 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 amputations, eye loss, 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 Englewood Area Office at 303-843-4500. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.