Improper safety procedures at an Illinois bread products plant led to two worker injuries just six weeks apart earlier this year, federal labor authorities alleged last week.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited food products company Kerry Inc. for three safety violations and proposed penalties of nearly $87,000.
OSHA officials said that a 52-year-old worker was cleaning a bread crumb conveyor on Aug. 17 when his left hand was pulled into the machine and amputated. A 57-year-old worker cleaning a dough machine then suffered injuries to his right forearm on Sept. 27 when a mixing blade rotated unexpectedly.
Authorities said that the plant did not follow proper lockout/tagout procedures for the machines.
"The injuries suffered by these employees could have been prevented if their employer had followed required safety procedures to isolate energy to machines before allowing workers to service them," OSHA area director Angeline Loftus said in a statement. "Kerry needs to make immediate changes to its safety procedures to protect its workers on the job."
The inspection also indicated that Kerry failed to conduct lockout/tagout inspections and to implement written energy control procedures.
Kerry has 15 business days following its receipt of the citations to comply, request a conference with OSHA officials or contest the findings.