Custom sheet extruder Primex Plastics Corp. faces $141,000 in federal fines after two Georgia employees each lost two fingers in two separate incidents.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration started an investigation in March after officials learned one employee lost both the middle and ring fingers Feb. 28 while attempting to clear a jam in a cutting machine. During an inspection, Primex officials told OSHA of a previous amputation on a similar machine, also at the Oakwood, Ga. facility.
OSHA cited the extruder on Aug. 27 for two repeated, 18 serious and two other-than-serious safety and health violations, according to U.S. Department of Labor documents, including several citations for failing to protect employees' hearing in grinding rooms and failing to provide burn protection on hot roller and extruder lines.
Richmond, Ind.-based Primex is a division of ICC Industries Inc.