Worker Safety

Highlights

Shutterstock: BW Folsom
Fresh block of Colby Jack cheese on a white background.
Worker Safety

Chemical Spill Injures 20 at New Mexico Cheese Plant

Jan. 6, 2025
Equipment malfunction causes acid in CIP room to overflow and mix with chlorine, creating a toxic gas that spread in the vicinity of the room, sickening employees working nearby...
Shutterstock: Framarzo
Italian salamella sausage in plastic food tray for sale in the market isolated on white in top view
Worker Safety

DOL Levies More Than $103,000 in Fines on Alabama Sausage Processor Dean’s Sausage Co.

Dec. 13, 2024
After the third OSHA inspection in three years, the Dept. of Labor has proposed an additional $103,245 in fines for repeat worker safety violations.
Nataliia Maksymenko
Factory for the production of food from meat.Industrial equipment at a meat factory.
Worker Safety

Poultry Processing Injury-Illness Rate Falls Below General Industry, Manufacturing Sectors for First Time

Nov. 13, 2024
U.S. Dept. of Labor has tracked total recordable incidents since 1994, and poultry industry has cut its injury-illness rate by 89% since then, becoming a standard-setting sector...
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Industry Perspective

Integrate Electrical Safety, Food Safety to Further Mitigate Risk in Food Plant Design

Nov. 12, 2024
A holistic approach to electrical and food safety standards while designing food processing plants and systems can help companies advance safety and reliability and stay ahead...
Alexandr Chytil
Safety Lockout tagout station with hanging locks with keys
Worker Safety

DOL Fines Mar-Jac Poultry, Requires Additional Safety Measures in Settlement Over Teen Worker’s Death

Aug. 15, 2024
Poultry processor will pay more than $164k in fines and be required to significantly increase safety measures after the death of a 16-year-old contract sanitation worker in July...
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Plant Safety

Processors Can Minimize Impact When Disaster Strikes — with Proper Planning

July 17, 2024
Developing and practicing an emergency response plan can help mitigate risk, minimize business interruption and save lives in the event of a catastrophic event at a processing...
Matt Popovich
Legal Issues

L.A.-Area Meat Processor, Staffing Agency Must Pay Nearly $400,000 for Child Labor Violations

June 26, 2024
A&J Meats’ owner is the daughter of the operator of three poultry processing companies found in violation of child labor laws in October 2023.
Worker Safety

J.H. Routh Packing Faces More Than $528k in Penalties for 43 Worker Safety Violations

June 20, 2024
Dept. of Labor finds dozens of serious OSHA violations at HK Cooperative Inc., dba J.H. Routh Packing Co., in Sandusky, Ohio.
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Legal Issues

Fresh Mark to Pay $3.725 Million to Settle Overtime Compensation Lawsuit

Nov. 3, 2023
Settlement will resolve lawsuit in which the Ohio meat processor was accused of not paying employees for pre- and post-shift donning and doffing time.
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Legal Issues

Three California Poultry Processors Face Preliminary Injunction for Child Labor, Wage Violations

Oct. 31, 2023
U.S. Dept. of Labor obtains injunction against Los Angeles-area poultry companies in latest child labor crackdown.
Shutterstock 1290308485
Legal Issues

Monogram Food Fined for Child Labor at Minnesota Meat Snacks Plant

Oct. 12, 2023
U.S. Dept. of Labor investigation found at least 11 children employed at Monogram Meat Snacks’ Chandler, Minn., processing facility; Monogram fined $140,000.
michigan state capitol lansing
Legal Issues

Michigan State Representative Proposes Bill to Increase Penalties for Child Labor Violations

Aug. 28, 2023
State House Bill 4932 would increase fines by five to 10 times the current amount on a sliding scale based on repeat violations and severity of any injuries.