Employer fined $237,000 after accidental death
September 1, 1999 2 minutes read
Employer fined $237,000 after accidental death
Apparent violations of the lockout/tag-out standard resulted in the death of an employee at Roger Wood Foods in Savannah, GA, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA has proposed fines of $237,000.
The agency began conducting a comprehensive health and safety inspection of the plant in January 1999 following the death of a maintenance worker who was crushed by a mechanical meat-vat dumper. The machine had not been locked out, a procedure that cuts off energy sources so that machinery remains inoperative during servicing.
OSHA’s inspection resulted in citations against Roger Wood Foods for 31 serious violations with a combined penalty of $127,000. The serious items included deficiencies associated with lockout safety procedures, noise exposure, use of respirators, walking/working surfaces, manage- ment of the anhydrous ammonia process, emergency response, and electrical and fire hazards. Two willful violations found during the inspection drew additional penalties of $110,000. The willful violations included employee exposure to high levels of noise without hearing protection and inadequate training in the energy control, or lockout, program.
In January 1998, the company was cited for equipment lockout hazards, the same kind of violation that resulted in a fatality a year later. OSHA contends that, despite that citation, company management still knowingly permitted employees to work on equipment during repair, maintenance, and cleaning operations without training them to be fully aware of all the energy sources that needed to be secured prior to starting work.
OSHA also had previously cited the company for violations in connection with lack of noise protection. In addition, independent outside contractors noted in 1992, 1995, and 1998 that employees were exposed to high noise levels without hearing protection. The employer did not institute a requirement for such protection until April 1999, OSHA says, almost three months after the most recent inspection.
In Savannah, Roger Wood Foods employs 220 workers in the production of sausages and other prepared meats. The company has 15 working days to contest OSHA’s citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
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