Dallas Food Company Cited Again
"This is the second time in less than a year that BCW Food Products has failed to comply with OSHA's regulations which safeguard lockout and tagout equipment energy sources," said Stephen Boyd, OSHA's area director in Dallas.
Dallas-based BCW Food Products Inc. has been cited by OSHA, which filed one willful, one serious, and one repeat violation against the company in connection with an amputation incident. Proposed penalties are $66,900.
A spokeswoman for the company did not return a call seeking comment Aug. 7.
OSHA's news release said a worker's left arm was amputated by an industrial screw conveyor while he was cleaning the inside of a packaging machine.
"This is the second time in less than a year that BCW Food Products has failed to comply with OSHA's regulations which safeguard lockout and tagout equipment energy sources. These energy sources can easily expose workers to amputation, as they did in this case," said Stephen Boyd, OSHA's area director in Dallas. "Had the employer followed OSHA standards, this incident could have been prevented. Employers must take their responsibilities under the law seriously."
He was referring to citations issued in November 2012 against BCW Food Products for 12 alleged serious safety violations and one serious health violation for exposing workers to possible amputations, with proposed penalties of $53,900. OSHA's investigation in that instance followed a report that an employee became trapped in a blending mixer while performing maintenance work.
BCW Food Products operates manufacturing facilities and warehouses in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Colorado, Kansas, Utah, and Illinois.