US Department of Labor again cites Green Bay cleaning products manufacturer after worker suffers amputation, fines company $194K

Summary:

A federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at Tufco LP, a Green Bay household cleaning products manufacturer, found that the company violated federal regulations for controlling hazardous energy and failed to report an employee's fingertip amputation. The incident occurred on August 18, 2023, when an employee's fingertip was severed while clearing a pump's outfeed. OSHA cited the company for one repeat, four serious, and two other-than-serious violations, proposing $194,518 in penalties. The investigation highlighted the company's lack of written lockout/tagout procedures, machine guarding, and a respiratory protection program, exposing employees to similar machine hazards in the past. The company has 15 business days to comply with the citations and penalties or contest the findings.