OSHA Fines Frozen Food Company Following Warehouse Worker's Death

Federal labor officials recently levied more than $100,000 in penalties against a California frozen food producer after a worker was killed in a fall at a New Jersey warehouse.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said that a 60-year-old Wei-Chuan U.S.A. Inc. warehouse supervisor died after falling 24 feet from a top warehouse rack in late December.

OSHA inspectors found that the company knowingly allowed employees to conduct inventory checks on pallets elevated by forklifts.

The agency cited Wei-Chuan for eight safety violations, including failure to use an approved platform for raising employees on forklifts, failure to provide fall protection and poor hazard communication training. The company was previously cited for deficient hazard communication in 2011.

"Wei-Chuan U.S.A. failed to provide required fall protection and ensure its forklift practices were safe, resulting in a preventable fatality," OSHA acting area director Brian Flynn said in a statement. "This tragedy could have been prevented if the company used basic safeguards and properly trained its employees to recognize workplace hazards."

The company had 15 business days following its receipt of the citations to comply, request a conference with OSHA officials or contest the findings.