New Hampshire Manufacturer Fined $45K after Worker Loses 2 Fingers

A Windham, New Hampshire company is facing nearly $45,000 in fines after an August 2008 accident in which an employee cut off two fingers with an unguarded saw.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for 34 violations of workplace safety and health standards to the company, A.P. Dailey Custom Laminating, Inc., which manufactures kitchen cabinets and countertops.

Owner Arthur Dailey says he will challenge the government’s safety fines, claiming government inspectors picked his business apart. He believes some of the violations were uncalled-for and plans to contest the fines.

Inspectors found employee saws lacked proper safety guards and that after the accident, workers failed to disinfect areas contaminated with blood. Other violations included improper forklift training; lack of eye, face and hand protection; and improper handling of hazardous chemicals.

The agency’s New Hampshire director, Rosemarie Ohar, said failure to correct these problems exposes employees to the dangers of fire, explosion, laceration, crushing, eye injuries and hazardous substances.
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Information from: New Hampshire Union Leader