An accident that resulted in a worker losing an arm will cost JBS USA close to $175,000 in fines from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
OSHA announced the fines in early September for an incident that occurred on Feb. 17 at the JBS plant in Greeley, Colo. A 37-year-old worker, engaged in cleaning a conveyor belt, reached forward to grab something that was falling off the end. A loose sleeve got caught in the conveyor’s sprocket, inflicting injuries that resulted in the amputation of his arm.
OSHA found that JBS was at fault for not having proper guards around the conveyor and not making sure that employees wore plastic clips on their sleeves to prevent such a possibility. The agency did not announce whether JBS plans to pay the fines or contest them.
OSHA fined the Greeley plant $15,615 in September 2020 for failing to protect employees against a COVID outbreak that killed six workers.
