A southwestern Ohio firm has been fined nearly $80,000 by federal workplace safety regulators for a series of violations at its metal stamping plant in Williams County.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it uncovered a number of issues at NN Metal Stampings Inc. during an August investigation at the company’s Pioneer plant.

Several of the proposed fines were for the a number of amputation risks that the agency said employees faced while using mechanical presses, as well as when changing dies. Investigators also said they found oil accumulating on the floor around one of the presses, exposing employees to dangerously slick conditions.

OSHA also said employees working on an energized 480-volt circuit weren’t wearing the required protective equipment, exposing them to risks of electrocution.

Finally, OSHA investigators noted the company did not property examine its forklifts after each shift, nor did it perform the required evaluations of employees who drove the forklifts.

In all, the proposed fines totaled $77,322. All companies cited by OSHA have the option to contest their fine and citations.

NN Metal Stampings is owned by the Pennant Cos.

In a separate report, OSHA recently fined Fenner Dunlop $26,724 for safety violations at the conveyor system manufacturer’s Westwood Avenue location in Toledo.

Regulators said employees doing maintenance on machinery were at risk of being pinched or crushed because the tooling was still energized. Investigators also said the pressure of compressed air being used for cleaning out machinery wasn’t properly regulated. 

Contact Tyrel Linkhorn at tlinkhorn@theblade.com or 419-724-6134.

First Published December 10, 2016, 5:00 a.m.