WEST CHESTER TWP. —
Serious safety violations have been found at a West Chester manufacturer after an employee was hurt on the job in November.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Cincinnati Area Office has cited Republic Wire, a cable wire insulation maker, following an investigation that began after a 30-year-old line operator’s left pinky finger was amputated by a machine, according to federal safety inspectors. He was welding two copper cables.
Republic Wire has been cited for: lacking guards on the welding machine to stop workers from contacting operating parts; failing to develop and train workers on machine specific procedures for isolating energy sources; and not reporting an amputation injury to OSHA within 24 hours as required, according to the labor department.
“Each year, hundreds of workers suffer amputation and other serious injuries because employers fail to install machine guards and train workers in safety procedures,” said Ken Montgomery, OSHA’s area director in Cincinnati, in a written statement.
The company faces proposed fines of $69,300 for the violations found by OSHA inspectors. One violation was deemed a willful violation, which means the employer knowingly failed to comply with a legal requirement or acted indifferently to employee safety, according to the federal government.
“They have 15 days from receipt of citation to request an informal meeting with the area director,” said Scott Allen, spokesman for the labor department. “The other option is for them to contest the citations. In that case it would go before an independent occupational safety and review commission.”
The company could also correct the issues and pay the penalties, Allen said.
Mark Huelsebusch, vice president of finance for Republic Wire of Union Centre Drive, declined Wednesday to comment until after the company meets with OSHA.
The family-owned business in 2012 planned to do a $6.7 million building expansion and investment in new equipment. At the time, the project was expected to add about 30 jobs upon completion for a total approximately 100 employees.
