040911 Poultry Plant Fined By OSHA

Albertville, AL - The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Wayne Farms, LLC, following the investigation of a fatal accident that occurred April 20 at the company's Albertville poultry processing plant. The agency is proposing $59,500 in total penalties.

OSHA's investigation found that the fatal accident occurred at a workstation where caged birds were moved along a conveyor belt. An employee had reportedly stepped between two cages to free a stuck cage door when the cages were pushed forward, crushing the worker.

"These so-called 'struck-by' accidents are a leading cause of worker deaths in the Southeast, "said Roberto Sanchez, OSHA's Birmingham area director.

"Employers must ensure that employees are not exposed to these safety hazards."

OSHA issued 19 serious citations, with $49,500 in proposed penalties, to Wayne Farms for allegedly exposing workers to safety hazards associated with conveyance systems, electrical equipment and corrosive chemicals.

The company also received one repeat citation, with a proposed penalty of $10,000, for exposing maintenance and service employees to alleged fall hazards. OSHA issues a repeat citation when a company has been cited previously for a substantially similar condition and the citation has become a final order of the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Wayne Farms has 15 working days to contest the OSHA citations and proposed penalties before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The work site was inspected by OSHA's Birmingham area office located at 2047 Canyon Rd.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, work-related fatalities declined 6.6% in 2002, the most recent year for which published data are available. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.

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