California worker loses fingers in unguarded machine
California OSHA issued six citations and $142,715 in penalties to Crenshaw Manufacturing Inc. in Huntington Beach, after a worker had three fingers amputated while manually loading products into an operating punch press. Cal/OSHA inspectors determined that the company failed to conduct regular inspections of power presses to ensure adequate machine guarding, did not conduct performance checks on power presses, and failed to provide employees with safety training.
Hawaii stadium builders exposed to hazards
The Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division issued 12 citations and $47,000 in penalties to Aloha Stadium in Aiea for exposing workers to safety and health hazards. HIOSH inspectors concluded that the stadium’s operating company failed to require appropriate personal protective equipment for workers operating power grinders and table saws. Other violations included failure to: provide eye wash stations for workers handling batteries that contained corrosive chemicals; secure drill presses to the floor, exposing workers to potential struck-by hazards; and properly guard table saws with hoods, which exposed workers to laceration and amputation hazards.