An east Georgia horse bedding manufacturing company says it's disputing the violations and penalties levied by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration last week.

OSHA issued 20 violations and more than $40,000 in fines to Callaway Farms Manufacturing in Wilkes County after investigating an injury where an employee slipped and fell into a machine.

According to the Athens Banner-Herald, the general manager and CEO at Callaway Farms says the worker climbed into a machine and was violating company guidelines.

An OSHA spokesman says that workers at the plant operated equipment without safety guards and were not required to wear protective footwear.

They say the worker climbed over two barriers and tried to unjam the shaver, which grinds logs into shavings.

Contributors: Carl Zornes

Tags: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, horse, bedding, Callaway Farms Manufacturing, Wilkes County, Athens Banner-Herald, Andy Bowers, Michael Wald