OSHA Issues 23 Health and Safety Violations for Pet Food Production Company; Fines Exceed $750,000

Imagine dealing with a factory or workplace explosion caused by combustible dust, of all things. Unfortunately, this situation does happen, jeopardizing the safety of others and inducing significant damage costs. OSHA has increased initiatives to penalize violators who do not do their best to follow the organization’s standards when it comes to air protection and hearing conservation.

All-Feed Processing & Packaging Inc., a pet food company in Illinois, was cited for 23 health and safety violations. These were largely due to the company’s lack of compliance with OSHA’s air contaminant, respiratory protection, and hearing conservation standards. The company had a dust explosion and fire in 2009, but still did not comply with recommended safety and health requirements. Nine of the recent citations were issued because All-Feed failed to mandate the use of respirators for six workers exposed to dust in excess of the permissible exposure limits. All-Feed also failed to protect three dust collection units, which collect combustible dust such as starch, potato base, cellulose fiber and pea protein, from fire explosion hazards.

It is hard to decide which is worse: a fire explosion due to dust or workers enduring hearing damage. Unfortunately, All-Feed faced four additional violations for matters such as requiring employees work in areas with lots of dust and failing to administer a continuing and effective hearing conversation program for employees exposed to excessive noise. For these violations, the proposed fines total $758,450. The organization was also fined five other times during previous OSHA inspections.

All-Feed’s gaffes serve as an example for what can happen when facilities fail to follow OSHA’S recommendations and protect their workers. Warnings are instrumental for managing working areas, and therefore posting signs is essential for preserving the safety of employees. Eye Protection Signs will prevent exposure to combustible dust and other harmful materials. View from a variety of messages such as “Eye Protection Required” or create your own with a variety of custom templates. Tough aluminum, hefty plastic, or laminated vinyl materials will last and withstand chemical damage, weather, and abrasion.

OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels said, “Employers have a responsibility to provide appropriate safety equipment and training to protect workers from respiratory hazards, and to ensure that workplaces are clean and healthful.” Now more than ever, workplace safety procedures need to be strictly adhered to.