OSHA Fines Alabama Food Supplier $75K After Amputation

The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued 12 citations for serious safety violations to a Keystone Foods processing plant in Bakerhill, Alabama on Tuesday, proposing $76,734 in fines.

“Keystone Foods is exposing workers to numerous serious safety hazards and must be more proactive with assessing the workplace for deficiencies and taking action to correct them,” OSHA’s area director in the Mobile, AL office, Joseph Roesler, said in a statement.

After a worker amputated the tip of his left index finger on March 7, 2016 while cleaning an unguarded overhead saw blade, OSHA commenced an investigation finding numerous serious safety violations including:

- Exposing employees to falls due to unguarded platforms.
- Exposing workers to amputation hazards due to unguarded saws and other machinery.
- Failing to follow safety procedures to prevent machinery from starting while cleaning.
- Failing to ensure workers wore eye protection.
- Failing to address the hazards of propane tanks stored near the ammonia refrigeration.
- Not including procedure to follow in the emergency action plan related to ammonia release.

Keystone Foods, headquartered in West Chester, PA, makes fresh and frozen poultry, beef, fish, and pork products. The company has 15 business days from the receipt of citations to request a conference with the OSHA area director, comply, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

For related articles, news, and equipment reviews, visit our Equipment Zones