Ohio Floor Manufacturer Faces $255K in OSHA Fines After Worker’s Partial Arm Amputation

A 23-year-old worker at a Portsmouth, Ohio, hardwood floor manufacturer suffered a partial arm amputation in May 2024, leading to multiple safety citations and proposed penalties of $255,528 from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Appalachian Wood Floors Inc., operating as Graf Custom Hardwood, was cited for bypassing safety devices on a rip saw machine at its Charles Street facility, where the incident occurred. OSHA inspectors found the disabled safety feature allowed the worker to become entangled in the machine’s rotating blades during troubleshooting.

The investigation prompted a concurrent inspection at the company’s Campbell Avenue location, revealing a pattern of safety violations. Since 2022, the manufacturer has faced five inspections at this site, resulting in their placement in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

OSHA identified 14 violations, including eight repeat offenses. Citations covered inadequate employee training in lockout/tagout procedures, unguarded machinery, electrical safety violations, and insufficient forklift training at both locations.

“A preventable tragedy has left a young man with a permanent, life-altering injury,” explained OSHA Area Director Ken Montogomery in Cincinnati. “Bypassing machine safety procedures puts workers at extreme risk. Appalachian Wood Floors must make worker safety a priority by ensuring proper training, enforcing safety standards, and maintaining machine safety guards to prevent future incidents.”

The company has 15 days to comply with citations, request an informal conference, or contest the findings.