Dalton Foundry of Warsaw was cited for two violations recently after a review of a June incident in which an amputation occurred.

The related violations are considered "serious" and the Indiana Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed a $5,000 fine to be levied against the company. Dalton is contesting the allegations.

According to IOSHA, the violations were grouped because they involve related hazards that may increase the potential for injury resulting from an accident.

The first violation indicates that industrial truck drivers were not required to slow down and sound the horn at cross aisles wherever vision was obstructed, and that on June 5 such a violation resulted in an amputation. IOSHA officials declined to name the injured worker.

Dalton has until Oct. 6 to correct that violation, as well as the related one which states that the employer did not provide instruction and training plantwide regarding pedestrian safety and observation techniques in areas used by powered industrial trucks.

The IOSHA notice indicates that "among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to instruct and train all employees using training video already possessed by employer and other means to safeguard pedestrian employees."

Steve Shaffer, human resources director at Dalton, said the incident for which the company was cited resulted when an employee accidentally stepped in front of a fork truck and suffered a foot injury severe enough to result in the need for amputation.

The company already indicated that it will contest the citations, Shaffer said, and an informal hearing is scheduled for Oct. 13 in Indianapolis. Shaffer said the company did not ask for an extension in abating the violations because it feels the training in place for pedestrians stepping into walkways is comprehensive and that there was some fault of the truck driver even though officials "are fairly sure the driver complied with the directives." [[In-content Ad]]