OSHA Fines Food Manufacturer $194K After Amputation

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined Mexican food manufacturing firm Bruce Foods Corporation $194,350 after a worker suffered an amputation at the company’s El Paso, TX facility, the agency announced in a February 27 release.

“Moving parts can cause severe injuries when they are not properly guarded and safety procedures are not in place,” Diego Alvarado Jr., OSHA area director in El Paso, said in a statement. “This injury could have been prevented with employee training and proper machine guarding.”

OSHA cited Bruce Foods for 24 violations, which included failing to train workers in lockout/tagout procedures, inadequate machine guarding, and exposing workers to live electrical parts. 

The company has 15 business days after receipt of the citations to comply, dispute the matter before an independent board, or request an informal conference with an OSHA area director. 

Bruce Foods produces canned Mexican food products at the El Paso plant that are sold under the Estrellas Mexicana brand, according to the company’s website. 

For more news headlines, articles, and equipment reviews, visit our Equipment Zones