American Excelsior Co. faces proposed penalties totaling $213,411 from the federal government for machine guarding hazards after an employee was hospitalized due to a crushed arm.
Following an investigation, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it determined the employee sustained injuries when the machine began operating while he removed product buildup.
OSHA cited the Norwalk, Ohio-based foam fabricator and molder for failing to develop or implement energy control procedures. American Excelsior faced was cited last year for similar violations at its Rice Lake, Wis., facility.
The company has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program due to the repeated violations.
"This employer failed to implement safety procedures to prevent known hazards," Kimberly Nelson, OSHA's Toledo area office director, said in a statement. "This injury could have been avoided if machine locking devices had been installed."
American Excelsior fabricates flexible polyurethane, polyethylene and other specialty foams. Products include bedding, packaging, retail, marine, medical, cushioning, cases, display and furniture applications.