AUBURN, Maine — A fabric manufacturing company faces more than $100,000 in federal fines for safety violations including the use of robots that could harm workers.
Maine Public Broadcasting Network reports the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is citing Formed Fiber Technologies Inc. in part because of dangerous robots used to trim carpeting. OSHA spokesman Ted Fitzgerald said the robots had arms that could extend “beyond a safe perimeter” and strike a worker.
Another violation is that equipment used in the production process wasn’t properly shut down and locked to stop it from starting during cleaning.
Fitzgerald said the agency doesn’t know of any injuries at the plant in Auburn.
Formed Fiber president Chris Richard said the company is reviewing the citations and “places the highest priority on workplace safety.”
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