Mass. Food Coatings Manufacturer Faces OSHA Fine

Federal regulators have proposed $192,000 in fines against an Attleboro, Mass. manufacturer whose employee lost his hand because of alleged safety violations.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Mantrose-Haeuser Company Incorporated for 29 alleged repeat, willful and serious violations of safety and health standards at its plant.

The violations were discovered after an employee lost his hand when it became caught in an unguarded rotating valve of a dust collection hopper last July.

OSHA says the plant was cited for similar violation in April 2005. Two other repeat citations were issued for unguarded work platforms and an emergency door that could not be opened.

The manufacturer of industrial and pharmaceutical food coatings said in a statement that it disagrees with some of the OSHA findings and will challenge some of the proposed citations and penalties.