A shingles manufacturer in Superior has been cited for nine safety violations after an Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation begun in May after a worker was killed.
David M. Clink, 30, of Superior was killed May 21 after his arm or clothing was caught in a conveyor belt system at White Cedar Shingles and Lumber Co., 2700 Winter St. It appeared Clink was pinned against the machinery and was asphyxiated.
OSHA reported in a statement released Tuesday that the machine Clink was working on had not been "locked out to prevent unexpected startup." It expects to levy a $156,240 fine.
"This was a terrible, preventable tragedy that underscores the importance of following OSHA's standards to control hazardous energy by training workers on affixing machine lockout devices," said Mark Hysell, OSHA's area
director in Eau Claire. "White Cedar Shingles was cited for the same deficiency in 2012, and that underscores its failure to act.
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Employers must identify and correct hazards and ensure workers follow proper procedures to prevent injury or death."
Two "willful" violations deal with failing to train workers to provide servicing on equipment, including safety stops.
OSHA describes a "willful" violations as "one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for, or plain indifference to, employee safety and health."
Five "serious" violations involved failing to have equipment shields and repairs made. OSHA describes its "serious" category as "substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known."
Two other minor violations were also mentioned.
The company has been placed in OSHA's "Severe Violator Enforcement Program," which mandates follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law.
White Cedar Shingles manufactures cedar shingles and boards. It employs about 10 workers. Inspections of the facility in 2010, 2011 and 2012 led to 10 violations, which include citations from 2012 for the lack of a training program to prevent sudden machine starts and to provide workers' training.
The company has 15 days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, ask for an informal conference with the OSHA area director, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
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Clink was working at the business alone. He was found by a co-worker, who in turn notified authorities about 7 p.m. OSHA arrived the next morning.
