Iowa Safety Agency Fines Animal Food Operation $74K

Iowa’s workplace safety agency wants to fine an eastern Iowa animal food operation for workplace safety violations, saying it has exposed employees to risks that include long falls.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration wants to impose fines of more than $74,000 on Devenish Nutrition, the Telegraph Herald reported. The company is based in Fairmont, Minnesota, and has a feed mill in Maquoketa. Company officials have declined to comment.

Inspectors said after a Dec. 2-3 check that they found a lack of proper protection from falls along the Maquoketa building’s catwalk and no protection for workers who climbed onto the roof to open bin lid covers.

Inspectors also said employees were exposed to “explosive dust hazards,” including corn gluten meal and grain dust.