Louisiana Food Manufacturer Fined $124K for Workplace Hazards
The U.S. Department of Labor’sOccupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a Louisiana food manufacturing company for 25 serious and one other violation for exposing workers to hazardous chemicals, electrical dangers and fall hazards. Proposed fines total $124,000.
OSHA discovered the violations after an inspection of the Madisonville facility operated by Diversified Foods and Seasonings LLC. The agency inspected the plant after an evacuation of the facility sent workers to the hospital as a precaution on Oct. 16, 2015.
The Diversified Foods and Seasonings citations include multiple violations of OSHA’s process safety management regulations; exposing workers to hazardous chemicals, respiratory protection, electrical hazards, and the failure to provide fall protection to employees.
Headquartered in Mandeville, Diversified Food and Seasonings has three manufacturing facilities in Theodore, Madisonville and in Nebraska in Nebraska City. The company has about 270 employees, with 60 workers in Madisonville. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independentOccupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
OSHA announced the citations on April 8.
Source: OSHA