Texas Furniture Manufacturer Cited for Safety Violations After Worker Injuries

Artco-Bell Corp. faces $257,000 in penalties after a worker sustained severe injuries due to a lack of required machine guards.

• By Robert Yaniz Jr.
• Oct 25, 2024

OSHA has cited furniture manufacturer Artco-Bell Corp. for 24 serious violations following an incident in April 2024 in which a worker suffered severe injuries.

According to a recent release, OSHA determined that the Temple, Texas-based company failed to install the required machine guards, which could have prevented the incident. The worker’s injuries occurred while using a garden hose to clean machine rollers at the company’s facility. The hose was caught in the rollers, pulling the worker’s arm into the machinery, resulting in serious and permanent hand and arm injuries.

In addition to failure to install machine guards, OSHA inspectors determined the company had exposed workers to respirable crystalline silica hazards. The investigation led to the issuance of 24 serious citations and a total of $257,183 in proposed penalties.

“An employee suffered painful injuries because Artco-Bell Corp. failed to comply with federal requirements for machine guards,” OSHA Area Director Monica Camacho in Austin, Texas, said in a statement. “Employers are responsible for ensuring their workers are trained to recognize and address workplace hazards, and that safety information is communicated in languages their employees understand.” 

Artco-Bell Corp. now has 15 business days from receiving the citations to either comply with the violations, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings with the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.