OSHA: Louisiana Bag Maker Exposed Workers to Amputation Hazards

Federal safety officials have cited Bancroft Bags Inc. in West Monroe, La., for failing to protect workers from amputation hazards. The company has been fined $84,000.

Bancroft was cited for 16 serious violations on Oct. 7, 2015. The citations allege the company failed to guard machinery and implement appropriate shut down procedures.

OSHA began an inspection in April 2015 after receiving notification from the employer that a printing press operator, who was trying to remove a gear from its shaft, had his hand pulled into the gears and his index finger amputated.

“The cost of implementing safety procedures is so low, and the cost of ignoring them is so high. If Bancroft had implemented procedures to keep the press from starting up, this man would still have all 10 fingers. Instead he’s suffered an injury that will affect him the rest of his life. This was a preventable injury and it’s incumbent upon the employer to find and fix hazards that pose a threat to the safety and health of its workers,” said Dorinda Folse, OSHA’s area director in Baton Rouge.

Bancroft Bags, manufactures bags for pet food, fertilizers and chemical product companies, and employs about 400 workers at its West Monroe packaging plant.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA

Topics Workers' Compensation Louisiana