Carpet manufacturer fined $234K after worker suffers partial finger amputation

UGN was cited for three repeat and four serious violations. These violations include failing to implement machine guarding, not requiring machine safety procedures, and failing to provide employees with heat-resistant PPE. The company faces $234,376 in penalties, in addition to being placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

In a recent quote, OSHA Area Director Ken Montgomery said, “In the past three years, employees of UGN have suffered several recordable injuries from machinery, including burns, broken bones, and now an amputation because the company continues to task workers with contacting machinery while it is in operation. UGN’s continued failure to implement machine safety procedures led to OSHA placing them in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program, allowing us to expand our enforcement efforts to ensure this company is meeting its legal responsibility to protect workers on the job.”