OSHA proposes $63K in penalties for Pleasant Prairie company accused of disabling machine safety devices

PLEASANT PRAIRIE -- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Milwaukee area office issued one willful safety violation to Warren Industries on August 4th -- for exposing workers to machine hazards.

Investigators found safety guards and interlocks were bypassed on three packing lines, allowing workers to come in contact with operating parts of machines which can cause injuries such as lacerations, fractures and amputation.

OSHA initiated its inspection after a former employee reported he was injured at the plant in 2014.

“Warren Industries disabled safety guards to keep production moving and that is unacceptable,” said Christine Zortman, OSHA’s area director in Milwaukee.  “The company needs to take immediate action to protect workers on the job.”

Warren Industries began operations in 1973 as a contract packaging company doing handwork projects.

Today, the company is one of the largest co-packing, packaging and mechanical binderies in the Midwest.

OSHA has proposed a penalty of $63,000 in this case.