Workers’ Safety Violations at Graf Custom Hardwood
Graf Custom Hardwood has been inspected three times in five months by federal safety inspectors, according to a new press release from the US Department of Labor. The inspections were prompted by reports of unsafe machinery and two of them involved injuries to workers.
An unguarded belt and pulley caught a worker’s fingertip in October 2022, causing the area to be partially amputated. Despite the mill’s safety procedures and training, inspectors found that employees were exposed to machine hazards due to a lack of guarding, safety procedures, and training.
The company was cited for six repeated and twelve serious safety violations involving machine safety procedures, trip hazards for surfaces filled with debris, and various electrical safety violations.
The company has been placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program and faces additional proposed penalties of $333,693. According to OSHA, the company must train their workers in safety procedures and review their machines for adequate guarding.
There is a 15-day deadline for the company to comply, to request an informal conference, or to contest the findings.
