Gurdon, Arkansas – Anthony Timberlands Inc., headquartered in Beirne, Arkansas, with approximately 800 employees statewide, is currently under scrutiny due to recent OSHA violations.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) disclosed that an investigation into the company’s practices unveiled four significant violations. Notably, these infractions encompassed an absence of lockout and tagout procedures during machinery maintenance, an inadequate provision of protective barriers in hazardous zones, and missing safety indicators in perilous areas.
The investigation was initiated after a tragic incident at the company’s Bearden facility, wherein a worker met with a fatal accident after a hoist table collapsed on them. OSHA’s assessment revealed the lumber stacking system lacked requisite protective measures to safeguard employees from the stacker hoist, resulting in a hazardous workplace. Consequently, penalties amounting to $218,759 have been levied against Anthony Timberlands.
OSHA Area Director in Little Rock, Arkansas, Kia McCullough, remarked, “This is not the first time an employee of Anthony Timberlands Inc. has died due the company’s failure to adhere to the mandated safety norms for automated machinery operations.” She further emphasized, “This company’s repeated oversight concerning its workforce’s safety and well-being is indefensible. Upholding worker safety is not a matter of choice; it is mandated by law.”
It’s worth noting that OSHA has previously cited the company for similar infractions in 2020 and 2022, both pertaining to inadequately guarded machinery. Anthony Timberlands is now provided a 15-business day window to address the concerns, initiate dialogue with OSHA, or challenge OSHA’s conclusions.
