The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Greeley, Colo.-based JBS USA LLC with 20 health and safety violations. The company faces proposed fines totaling $83,414.
JBS USA was cited for 11 serious, one repeat and eight other-than-serious violations. The citations stem from a December 2012 inspection under OSHA's Site Specific Targeting Program, which directs enforcement resources to high-hazard workplaces.
In a statement emailed to MeatPoultry.com, a spokesman wrote: “We will sit down with our partners at OSHA this week to review the citations in a detailed manner and arrive at a final outcome that ensures the safety of our employees.”
The serious violations were associated with the safety portion of the inspection. OSHA said workers were exposed to potential fall hazards from elevated work areas, possible amputations due to improper machine guarding, improper lockout of equipment energy sources before performing maintenance work and failing to use safe work practices for electrical elements. The serious violations associated with the health portion of the inspection pertained to workers' high exposure to occupational noise, risking possible hearing loss, and the lack of training on the safe use of chemicals.
The repeat violation was for failing to properly guard machinery exposing workers to ingoing nip points and rotating parts, OSHA reported. Similar violations were cited at the facility in 2009.
The other-than-serious violations include an exposed electrical box, an unsafe ladder, defective emergency exit signs, improper use of electrical cords, lack of electrical personal protective equipment and worker exposure to high concentrations of carbon dioxide.
The company has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Denver area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
