A New Jersey food manufacturer is in hot water with federal OSHA following an inspection that found lockout/tagout violations at its Vineland facility.
OSHA opened the inspection following a complaint the agency received in September 2023.
Inspectors found that the company didn’t have a lockout/tagout program for maintenance and sanitation staff and didn’t properly guard its conveyor system.
Fine: $463,224
Company: Aunt Kitty’s Food Inc., Vineland, New Jersey
Business: Fruit and vegetable canning
Reasons for fine:
One willful violation for failing to:
- develop procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy
Two repeat violations for failing to:
- maintain the floor of each work room in a clean and dry condition
- properly guard the belt and roller of a conveyor belt
Four serious violations for failing to:
- provide employees with baseline audiograms when exposed to excessive noise levels
- obtain annual audiograms after obtaining baseline audiograms for employees exposed to excessive noise levels
- conduct periodic inspections of energy control procedures
- train authorized employees in the recognition and methods for isolation of hazardous energy sources in the workplace
