The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Chicago metal container manufacturer B-Way Corp. for one repeated and one serious safety violation after a temporary worker suffered an amputation injury. It is the third amputation injury at B-Way since the summer of 2015.

The agency proposed penalties of $81,062.

According to the agency, a machine amputated a 52-year-old temporary worker’s right middle finger tip on Sept. 10 when it came in contact with the machine’s operating parts as he cleared a jam. Agency investigators determined the employer installed the machine’s safety guards improperly. They also found the company did not instruct workers properly in procedures to prevent machine movement during service and maintenance, a process known as lockout/tag out.

“Each year, manufacturing workers suffer hundreds of preventable injuries because employers fail to install safety guards properly and train workers in machine safety procedures,” said Kathy Webb, OSHA’s area director in Calumet City. “B-Way Corp. needs to review its machines’ operations corporate-wide immediately to ensure they have adequate and properly installed safety guards. They must also be sure that workers are using lockout/tag out procedures to prevent them from coming in contact with operating parts.”

Based in Atlanta, B-Way Corp. produces metal and plastic containers for product packaging and has 28 facilities in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citation and penalties to respond.