OSHA proposed $264,478 in combined penalties against Western Bee Supplies Inc. and its staffing contractor LC Staffing Service after a worker suffered a partial finger amputation at an unguarded saw, and investigators discovered the amputation was not an isolated event — work logs showed other serious injuries on the same machine that had never been reported to OSHA.

Western Bee Supplies, Inc. — Machine Guarding / Amputation / Unreported Prior Injuries (2021)

Outcome: OSHA proposed $264,478 in combined penalties against Western Bee Supplies, Inc. and its staffing contractor LC Staffing Service after a worker suffered a partial finger amputation at an unguarded saw; inspectors found widespread unguarded equipment throughout the Polson, Montana facility, and work log review revealed the amputation was not the first serious injury on the machine — prior injuries had never been reported to OSHA.

Western Bee Supplies, Inc. is a manufacturer based in Polson, Montana. OSHA Region 8 inspectors responded to a reported partial finger amputation at the facility. When inspectors arrived, they found a workplace with unguarded saw blades, rotating machinery, belts, pulleys, and chains throughout the facility. Machine operators were cleaning saw blades and other equipment without first locking out and tagging out the equipment to prevent sudden restart — a fundamental lockout/tagout failure. Inspectors also found that workers were being exposed to noise levels that should have triggered a hearing conservation program, but no audiometric testing had been conducted.

A review of the facility's recent work logs revealed that the amputation was not the only serious injury that had occurred on the machine involved — it was simply the first one that had been reported to OSHA. Prior injuries had occurred but had not been documented or reported within the 24-hour reporting requirement for amputations.

OSHA cited Western Bee Supplies for willful violations including failure to install guards on various equipment and failure to control hazardous energy; serious violations for the hearing conservation failure and amputation reporting failure. OSHA cited LC Staffing Service for willfully failing to train employees in lockout/tagout procedures. Total proposed penalties were $264,478. Both employers signed informal settlement agreements accepting the citations with minor penalty reductions.

Primary Source: US Department of Labor proposes $264K in fines for Montana manufacturer, staffing agency for serious, willful violations following finger amputation