2 workers suffer severe injuries within a week, meat casing manufacturer fined $197K by OSHA
An OSHA investigation has determined that Viscofan USA Inc. could have prevented the severe injuries of two workers within the same week. According to OSHA, Viscofan, which is a U.S. subsidiary of a meat casing manufacturer, failed to follow federally required procedures for machine safety. The first incident occurred when a maintenance worker’s arm got caught in a roller machine, causing broken bones and lacerations. The second incident occurred when a worker was cleaning a pump and suffered chemical burns. The company was ultimately cited for one repeat violation, seven serious violations, and one other-than-serious violation. These violations include failing to implement adequate procedures for energy control, not properly training employees on machine safety and handling hazardous chemicals, and failing to review energy control procedures annually. Viscofan faces $197,054 in penalties.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, OSHA Area Director Edward Marshall said, “Viscofan USA has a long history of violations and worker injuries at its Danville facility, with two more workers needlessly suffering severe injuries because the company again failed to implement an effective safety and health program and develop specific energy control procedures to protect workers doing maintenance. Employers are responsible for training their workers and taking all necessary precautions to protect them from known hazards.”
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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