Feds Cite Georgia Car Wash After Worker's Fingers Are Amputated

ATHENS, GA — A company that runs several car washes in Georgia has been cited by federal regulators after an Athens worker had two fingers cut off in a workplace accident.

Swifty Car Wash, which runs a location on 2434 W. Broad St. in Athens, was cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for 11 violations in all.

They included exposing employees to unguarded machine parts and equipment, exposing workers to falls with missing safety rails, not providing eye protection from hazardous chemicals, exposing workers to electric shock hazards and not providing written hazard training.

Swifty also was cited for not reporting the worker's injury, and hospitalization, within 24 hours.

According to OSHA, a worker suffered the amputation of two fingers at the Athens car wash on May 28, 2016.

The 21-year-old attendant was working near a ventilation fan when he slipped and his hand went into the fan, the administration said Monday in a news release.

"The fan's unguarded blade caused the severe injury," the release said.

"Hoping that no one gets hurt is not a safety program," said William Fulcher, OSHA's area director in the Atlanta office. "Every employee deserves a workplace free of hazards that may cause injury, illness or worse."

The administration hit Swifty with a proposed fine of $42,700.

Swifty Car Wash operates five locations in Georgia, employing about 45 people, according to OSHA.

On its website, the company lists six locations -- in Athens, Atlanta, Decatur (two locations), McDonough and Winder.