Federal Probe Uncovers Safety Lapses at Racine County Waste Management Firm

FRANKSVILLE, Wis. (Civic Media) — Federal investigators have cited a Racine County waste management company for inadequate safety measures that led to severe injuries of a temporary maintenance worker in January 2024.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $367,401 in penalties against John’s Disposal Service Inc. and John’s Recycling Inc. for 13 violations at their Franksville facility.

OSHA found that the companies, operating as a single entity, failed to implement proper energy control procedures before the worker began servicing a vehicle. The worker’s jacket sleeve was pulled into an engine, resulting in severe injuries.

“Employers are responsible for training their workers and taking all necessary precautions to protect them from known hazards,” said OSHA Area Director Dustin Schnipke in Milwaukee.

The agency cited the companies for two serious violations related to lacking energy control procedures. Additionally, OSHA identified repeat violations from 2023, including failure to provide fall protection, inadequate forklift operator training, and lack of hazard communication training.

Other citations included the absence of a hearing conservation program and inadequate machine guarding.

The family-owned waste removal and recycling company, founded in 1969 and based in Whitewater, employs about 300 people with facilities in Franksville and Brookfield.

The company has 15 business days to comply with the citations, request a conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.