OSHA fines Wisconsin waste management company

John’s Disposal Service Inc. and John’s Recycling Inc. in Franksville, Wisconsin, are facing $367,000 in fines after an investigation from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) uncovered 13 federal safety standards violations, the U.S. Department of Labor reports.

The family-owned and operated waste removal and recycling company is based in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and employs about 300 people at facilities in Franksville and Brookfield.

The investigation was launched in response to report of a workplace injury in which a temporary maintenance worker suffered severe injuries in January after their jacket sleeve was pulled into an engine as they serviced a vehicle. OSHA inspectors determined the employer had not ensured that energy control procedures were in place and used before the worker began servicing the vehicle.

“A worker suffered severe injuries because their employer failed to implement an effective safety and health program and develop specific energy control procedures to protect workers conducting repairs on vehicles,” says Dustin Schnipke, OSHA area director in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “Employers are responsible for training their workers and taking all necessary precautions to protect them from known hazards.”

During its January investigation, OSHA opened two follow-up inspections to verify the Franksville company had corrected hazards which the agency cited the employer in 2023.

The agency cited the companies, operating as a single entity, for two serious violations for lacking energy control procedures. OSHA also cited the company again for failures found in 2023:

• not providing fall protection on an elevated platform;
• failing to train forklift operators; and
• not providing hazard communication training.

In addition, the agency noted the company lacked a hearing conservation program and did not adequately install machine guards to protect employees from moving conveyors, motor shafts and a grinder.

In total, OSHA cited John’s Disposal and John’s Recycling for five repeat, five serious and three other-than-serious violations and proposed $367,401 in penalties. The company has 15 business days from the receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.