Safety Alert
Worker Flicks Wrong Unlabeled Switch
Now may be a good time to ensure that all power switches are properly labeled – especially those connected to dangerous machinery.
Company: V&B International, Inc., Port Gibson, MS.
Business: Sawmill
Agency: OSHA.
Fine: $139,800 (proposed).
Reason for fine: The company didn’t have specific lockout / Tagout procedures.
Note: While two workers were changing the knives in a chipper machine, a third worker turned on what he thought was the power switch to a heater. However, it was actually the switch for the chipper. When the chipper activated, one of the two men working on it was sliced to death. The chipper hadn’t been properly de-energized.
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