H.M. Richards Cited by OSHA in Worker’s Death

March 5, 2015  by in Industry, Legal, Product, Upholstery   

OSHA has proposed $55,100 in penalties.

The incident occurred Oct. 1, 2014, when Raymond Marvin Reece, 46, disconnected wiring on a saw in the company’s temporary facility in Guntown, Miss.

OSHA investigators who responded to the scene after Reece’s death found nine safety violations, including one that could have prevented the incident.

According to the citation, the company failed to provide electrical safety training to Reece.

"Regrettably, a spouse and two children are left without a husband, father and the support he provided to make ends meet because H.M. Richards failed to train or qualify Mr. Reece in the duties he was assigned according to OSHA standards," said Eugene Stewart, OSHA's area director in Jackson, Miss.

OSHA issued a citation to the company for not marking circuit breakers to indicate what they control in the circuit-breaker box. The agency had cited H.M. Richards in May 2011 for the same violation.

Other violations, including failing to ensure employees were trained and qualified to perform electrical work; exposing workers to amputations and struck-by hazards by operating dangerous machines without protection; not ensuring the electrical disconnect switch could not be turned back on before performing work; and exposing employees to electrical shock and burns due to unmarked ground conductors. Another violation was cited for allowing damaged wiring on a fan.

H.M. Richards has 15 days from the citation receipt to comply, request a conference with OSHA or to contest the findings.