OSHA cites Fremont Beef for safety violations after amputation

OMAHA — The U.S. De-partment of Labor’s Occupat-ional Safety and Health Ad-ministration has cited manufacturer Fremont Beef Co. in Fremont following a safety inspection at the facility, which started in February in response to a report of an amputation.

Citations cover one serious, one repeat and one other-than-serious violation. The serious and repeat violations are directly related to the amputation.

“It is the responsibility of every employer to provide a safe and healthful workplace for employees,” said Charles E. Adkins, OSHA’s regional administrator in Kansas City.  “Employers must make safety priority number one and take all necessary steps to eliminate hazards from the workplace.”

The serious citation is for failing to ensure that lockout/tagout devices were used by authorized employees to de-energize a machine. 

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard which the employer knew or should have known.

The repeat citation is similar to a citation issued in 2009 for this company’s failure to ensure employees were instructed on lockout/tagout energy control procedures.  

A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order  within the last five years.

The other-than-serious citation is for failing to properly record injuries and illnesses.  An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but would not cause death or serious physical harm.

The company faces $45,500 in proposed penalties and has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference in Omaha or contest the findings.