OSHA Discovered Multiple Safety Hazards at Sanimax USA’s Wisconsin Plant

OSHA Discovered Multiple Safety Hazards at Sanimax USA’s Wisconsin Plant

The company faces nearly $300,000 in proposed penalties.

  • By Robert Yaniz Jr.
  • Jul 24, 2023

Sanimax USA LLC faced OSHA violations in 2019 and 2022. Now OSHA has found similar issues during a 2023 inspection.

In a release dated July 20, OSHA announced its findings after a visit to the Sanimax rendering plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin, uncovered safety hazards. These included broken guardrails, electrical hazards, unguarded production equipment, unguarded or unlabeled hot steam and process pipes and explosion hazards such as the build-up of combustible dust.

The inspection followed an incident in January 2023 that left an employee with severe burns after a pump seal released steam and hot oil during an effort to clear blocked pumps and piping. OSHA expanded the inspection under its Local Emphasis Program (LEP) for food manufacturing in Wisconsin, effective April 2022. In the end, OSHA proposed $296,668 in penalty fines for the citations, which includes three repeat and 10 serious violations.

“In the past five years, OSHA has cited Sanimax for violations like those found in this investigation. The company is well aware of the need to guard equipment and keep surfaces free of liquids that can create slip and fall hazards,” Robert Bonack—OSHA Area Director in Appleton, Wisconsin—said in a statement. “Failing to heed previous OSHA citations and correct deficiencies puts employees at risk. Employers can prevent injuries by following required safety procedures and by training workers to recognize and mitigate hazards.”

Sanimax specializes in transforming organic materials into industrial manufacturing ingredients. In addition to Green Bay, the company also has facilities in DeForest, Wisconsin and St. Paul, Minnesota. Sanimax has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA or contest its findings.

About the Author

Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.

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