US Department of Labor proposes $264K in fines for Montana manufacturer, Western Bee Supply Inc. in Polson, staffing agency for serious, willful violations following finger amputation

OSHA finds Western Bee Supply failed to report earlier injury as required

When OSHA inspectors arrived at Western Bee Supply Inc. in Polson to investigate a recent incident that resulted in a partial finger amputation, they found a workplace with unguarded saw blades, rotating machinery, belts, pulleys and chains. Machine operators were cleaning saw blades and other machinery without locking out and tagging out equipment to prevent sudden starts, as required. A review of recent work logs by inspectors found the amputation wasn’t the only serious injury to occur on the machine involved, just the first one that had been reported to them.

“One worker suffered a serious injury and another required hospitalization in an incident unreported previously at Western Bee. Both incidents were completely preventable had the company simply installed proper safeguards,” said OSHA Area Director Art Hazen in Billing, Montana. “Employers are required to provide workers with a safe and healthful place of employment.”