Unguarded Presses Maim Workers, Bring $1.4 Million – Penalty and Show Need for Keeping OSHA Funding

SAN FRANCISCO - On May 18 Fed-OSHA proposed $1,368,000 in penalties against Omega Plastics Corp., in Lyndhurst, NJ, for alleged violations of machine and power transmission guarding requirements that resulted in 10 serious injuries in a 13-month period. All the injuries were preventable, OSHA said.The company manufactures plastic bags for merchandise, using presses for printing on the bags. It employs 85 workers. The accidents occurred when employees' hands, fingers or arms were caught in moving or rot