Synthetic filaments manufacturer Monahan Filaments LLC was cited for violations of machine safety standards and issued a fine of $258,271 by the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after the agency investigated a worker’s injury at the firm’s Arcola, IL facility. 

A worker’s hand was fractured and burned after contacting moving machine parts in Monahan Filaments’ facility on Sept. 20, 2019. OSHA initiated an investigation into the incident after receiving an employer-reported referral. 

The agency cited the company for two willful violations for failing to control hazardous energy sources and inadequate machine guarding on rotating parts and ingoing nip points. Monahan Filaments also received a citation for a repeat violation for failing to train workers to perform energy control procedures during set-up operations. 

“Injuries from machine hazards are preventable when machine guarding and lockout/tagout standards are followed,” Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt said in a statement. “OSHA has resources available to help employers and workers understand requirements for properly safeguarding equipment.”

The company has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with an OSHA area director, or contest the findings before the Independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. 

Earlier this month, OSHA issued a document to provide workplaces with guidance on how to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. The agency also debuted a COVID-19 webpage to offer infection prevention information for workers and employers. The website is also actively reviewing and responding to any complaints regarding workplace protection from novel coronavirus, as well as conducting outreach activities.

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