Refrigerated Foods Firm Cited Following Worker's Puncture Wound
Ten serious violations include various fall hazards, a lack of personal protective equipment, and failure to train employees on lockout/tagout procedures to prevent accidental energy start-up.
OSHA has cited Orval Kent Foods Co. Inc. in Delphos, Ohio, for 11 safety violations after a worker suffered a puncture wound from a drill press in December 2010. The refrigerated prepared foods company faces penalties totaling $60,300.
"Employers are responsible for knowing what hazards exist in their facilities and for taking necessary precautions to ensure OSHA standards are met," said Jule Hovi, OSHA's area director in Toledo. "For 40 years OSHA has been committed to protecting workers."
Ten serious violations include various fall hazards, a lack of personal protective equipment, failure to train employees on lockout/tagout procedures to prevent accidental energy start-up, a lack of machine guarding, unsecured shelving units, failure to use electrical equipment in accordance with approved uses, and leaving a forklift unattended while the engine was running.
The company also was cited with one other-than-serious violation for failing to properly record and adequately describe injuries in the OSHA 300 log.
Orval Kent Foods Co.'s North American headquarters are located in Wheeling, Ill. In addition to its Delphos facility, the company has plants in Hildago, Texas; Baxter Springs, Kan.; Vista, Calif.; San Diego; and Mexico. The company has more than 180 workers in Delphos and more than 650 total employees. The company previously was cited by OSHA in 2008 at its Kansas facility for power transmission deficiencies.