Today’s reminder that you don’t want to know how the sausage is made: news about safety inspections involving an Alabama sausage-maker revealing basic issues with keeping workers safe.
OSHA cited Dean Sausage Company Inc. in 2022 with seven serious and seven other-than-serious violations for not ensuring machines had proper safety guards, failing to lockout/tagout machines before maintenance and servicing, using electric power and lighting installations unsafely and exposing employees to struck-by and caught-in hazards, electric shock and burns, and hazardous chemicals.
OSHA returned to the processing facility last year for a follow-up inspection and again found many of the same violations. Dean’s Sausage received citations for nine repeat and two serious violations, as well as one other-than-serious violation.
In a second follow-up inspection, in July, OSHA cited the company for three repeat violations for not developing, documenting and using machine-specific lockout/tagout procedures, not training employees on the lockout/tagout program and failing to develop and implement a written hazard communication program for employees exposed to hazardous chemicals.
The agency also cited two serious violations for missing electrical panel covers.
“Putting employees at risk by neglecting safety is a reckless way to operate. Dean Sausage Company’s repeated disregard for worker safety shows a troubling priority of profits over people,” said OSHA Area Office Director Joel Batiz. “The company must correct its disturbing workplace safety failures before an employee suffers a needless injury or worse. The people who work there every day to help put food on our tables deserve better, and we will continue to hold the employer accountable until they make safety a priority.”
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Chris Graham
