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Flooring Mill Cited After Repeated Worker Injuries

Three partial finger amputations occurred at the same plant within five months.

An Ohio hardwood flooring plant could pay more than $333,000 after three workers sustained injuries in a five-month window last year.

Appalachian Wood Floors Inc. — operating as Graf Custom Hardwood — was also placed in OSHA’s “Severe Violator” program.

Labor Department officials said an employee at the company’s Portsmouth mill suffered the partial amputation of a fingertip in October.

Similar injuries were reported at the same facility in July and May.

The investigation found problems with machine safety, trip hazards, unsafe electrical equipment and faulty recordkeeping.

Graf was cited for six repeated violations and 12 serious violations of workplace safety rules.

Local OSHA officials said the pattern demonstrated “blatant disregard for the safety of workers.”

The company has 15 days after receiving the citations to comply, contest the findings, or request a conference with OSHA officials.

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