November 26, 2024

Ohio hardwood flooring manufacturer faces $255K in fines after worker suffers partial arm amputation when caught in machine at Portsmouth mill

Investigations identify 14 violations at two Graf Custom Hardwoods locations

PORTSMOUTH, OH – Once again, the U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Portsmouth hardwood floor manufacturer with a long history of federal safety violations after the company reported a 23-year-old worker suffered a partial arm amputation while troubleshooting a rip saw machine at the manufacturer's Charles Street facility.

Responding to a May 2024 report of a worker's injury at Appalachian Wood Floors Inc. ‒ operating as Graf Custom Hardwood ‒ inspectors with the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined the saw's safety device was bypassed. This failure allowed the worker to become entangled in the machines' rotating blades at the facility, where raw wood is processed into finished flooring.

After the incident, OSHA opened a concurrent inspection at the company's nearby Campbell Avenue facility. Since 2022, five inspections at this location have identified recurring safety violations, leading to Appalachian Wood Floors' inclusion in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program. Additionally, the company's Charles Street facility was cited for machine safety violations in 2022.

The company received citations for eight repeat, two serious and four other-than-serious violations for which OSHA assessed $255,528 in proposed penalties.

Agency inspectors found the company failed to adequately train employees at both locations in lockout/tagout procedures and did not mandate the use of lockout/tagout when troubleshooting machines, changing blades, cleaning rollers and changing colors. Inspectors noted unguarded in-going nip points of chains and sprockets on a tilt hoist and chop saw, and found multiple electrical safety violations as well as a lack of forklift training.

"A preventable tragedy has left a young man with a permanent, life-altering injury," explained OSHA Area Director Ken Montogomery in Cincinnati. "Bypassing machine safety procedures puts workers at extreme risk. Appalachian Wood Floors must make worker safety a priority by ensuring proper training, enforcing safety standards, and maintaining machine safety guards to prevent future incidents."

Learn more about OSHA, the agency's National Emphasis Program for amputations and lockout/tagout procedures.

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

Media Contacts:

Scott Allen, 312-353-4727, allen.scott@dol.gov
Rhonda Burke, 312-353-4807, burke.rhonda@dol.gov

Release Number: 24-2405-CHI