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They’ve been cited for 18 violations by OSHA, but Baird Display, a Waukesha sign manufacturer, intends to fight the federal agency. Federal officials, meanwhile, allege an employee was almost dismembered.

On Jan. 10, the employee tried to bypass a safety protocol and nearly lost his arm when it lodged inside machinery, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A review by the agency followed the alleged incident and cited the company 18 times for what OSHA calls “serious” violations.

(illustration by adrian palomo)

But Neal Wickert, company president, says Baird has already complied with 90 percent of the issues raised by OSHA. He’s says the company’s working on the other 10 percent but still contesting the OSHA citations.

“We just disagree with the opinion of OSHA,” says Wickert, who declined to elaborate. “We’ll be presenting additional information that supports our decision.”

The company doesn’t deny the worker’s arm became lodged in the machine but says the reason why it became stuck is still under investigation. Because their appeal was just filed, a hearing date has not yet been set.

Baird’s OSHA citations include failure to provide guardrails and other protections against falling from platforms; failure to establish a lockout/tagout energy control program; failure to produce procedures for controlling potentially hazardous energy sources on equipment or provide proper training; and failure to have proper guarding on machinery or rotating shafts. Fines for the citations total about $60,000.

When NewsBuzz asked an OSHA representative for a glossary explaining the citations, it was told one wasn’t available and answers could only be found in the legal code that governs OSHA.

Wickert says the charges brought against his company are unclear. “The OSHA codes are as vague and ambiguous as the IRS tax service,” he says. “You can’t be an expert on everything. We relied too heavily on insurance companies and their semi-annual inspections.”

The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission will now review Baird’s case. This group, which operates independently from OSHA, will assign the case to an administrative judge and give Baird an opportunity to explain why it feels the citations are incorrect. Baird can negotiate a settlement with OSHA or bring the case to a trial.

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