Several other violations lead to $152,100 fine
B&B Lumber in Jamesville.
Federal work safety inspectors have fined B&B Lumber of Jamesville for 35 serious violations and hit the company with a $152,100 fine following the death of a 25 year old saw mill workers in February. 35-year old Thomas Pelton of Camden was killed on February 7th when one of his co-workers restarted a machine while he was replacing an edging saw blade.
"This is exactly the type of needless and devastating occurrence that the hazardous energy control standard is designed to prevent," said Christopher Adams, OSHA's area director in Syracuse. "One unintended or unknowing turn of a machine's 'on' switch can end a worker's life in seconds. That's why effective lockout/tagout safeguards must be implemented and maintained at all times."
Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations require potentially dangerous equipment, like a power saw, to have power shutdown and locked out before any repairs or maintenance can be done.
OSHA's news release goes further in reporting numerous other life threatening conditions that existed at B&B Lumber:
"OSHA's inspection also identified several other unrelated hazardous conditions at the mill encompassing fall, electrical, machine guarding, ladder use and personal protective equipment hazards, as well as inadequate means of egress. Left uncorrected, they expose employees to the hazards of falls, electrocution, lacerations, amputation, being caught in moving machine parts and being unable to exit the workplace swiftly in the event of an emergency."
The company has 15 days to respond to the allegations and proposed fines. CNYcentral put in a call for comment to Brigham Boorer one of the owner's of B&B Lumber. The company says it has cooperated with OSHA and is reviewing the citations.
