An investigation conducted by OSHA has determined that Dean Sausage Co. Inc. exposed workers to a host of hazards related to lockout/tagout, machine guarding, hazard communication, and blocked exits. The agency’s latest visit to the sausage manufacturer’s Alabama plant was a follow up to their initial inspection on December 8, 2022. Initially, Dean Sausage was cited for 14 violations and was fined over $37,000.
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During this latest inspection, OSHA cited the company for seven repeat violations and two serious violations. These violations include failing to develop and use machine-specific lockout/tagout procedures, not creating and implementing a hazard communication program, and failing to maintain required safety data sheets. Dean Sausage faces $116,153 in proposed penalties.
In a recent quote, OSHA Area Office Director Joel Batiz said, “The bottom line for any company is they must keep their workers safe. Employers have a legal obligation to put worker safety before profit and to do all they must to make sure every employee ends their shift safely. The fact that Dean Sausage Co. has allowed employees to be exposed to hazards for which we cited them in the past raises real concerns. Their latest failure is unacceptable and OSHA will hold the company accountable.”
Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector.