OSHA Launches New Enforcement to Prevent Amputations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced plans to strengthen its enforcement efforts surrounding work-related amputations. According to the Administration, 57% of all work-related amputations that occurred in 2015 happened in the manufacturing industry. While amputations also occur in other industries, it's far more prevalent in the manufacturing industry. As such, OSHA has announced a "heightened focus" on hazards pertaining to amputations, encouraging both employers and employees alike to take the necessary measures to protect against this all-too-common injury.

So, just how much of a problem is amputations in the workplace? According to OSHA, it received reports of more than 2,600 amputations last year alone. The most cited violation associated with this injury was machine guarding, which many employers failed to implement in their workplace. Machine guarding is essentially a type of protective barrier or "feature" that protects the worker from the machine. Certain types of heavy machinery and equipment must include guarding, as it's necessary to prevent serious injuries such as amputations.

Another common violation that's tied directly to work-related amputations is lockout/tagout. As you may already know, lockout/tagouts are required when maintenance is being performed on a machine. The purpose of  a lockout/tagout is to prevent the machine from accidentally turning on while a worker is performing maintenance on it. If the machine turns on -- and a worker is still inside performing maintenance -- it could result in serious injury or amputation.

"Our focus on amputation hazards reminds employers that safety and health should remain a top priority," said Kelly C. Knighton, regional administrator for OSHA in a statement. "We can only hope that the focus on this issue will reduce the potential for continued worker exposure to unguarded machines and equipment."

So, what does this mean for employers? It means that companies in the manufacturing industry and other high-risk industries can expect greater enforcement efforts in regards to amputation. OSHA will strengthen its enforcement efforts to reduce the number of work-related amputations that occur. So if you're an employer in the manufacturing or similar high-risk industry, you should conduct your own internal safety audit to ensure you are complying with all national and local safety workplace laws.