OSHA investigation finds St. Marys’ manufacturer willfully exposed employees to dangerous machine hazards

Employer name: P/M National Inc., 201 Grotzinger Road, St. Marys, Pennsylvania

Citations issued: On Feb. 27, 2016, The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for one willful and five serious violations.

Investigation findings: On Oct. 7, 2015, OSHA initiated an inspection in response to a complaint alleging hazards at the work site, and under the agency’s National Emphasis Program on amputations. Inspectors found a lack of machine guarding throughout the facility and cited the company for the hazards. Further, owners admitted to not installing guards on newer metal presses and removing guards from older presses.

Proposed penalties: $60,200

Quote: “P/M National Inc. intentionally designed its work process in a way that put employees at risk of amputation hazards,” said Theresa Naim, director of OSHA’s Erie area office. “Machine safeguards are necessary to protect workers from these preventable injuries.”

View the citations:  http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/PMNational_1096960.pdf

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings 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 Erie area office at (814) 874-5150.