Cargill division cited for exposing workers to hazardous energy

The US Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the firm for three safety violations after receiving a complaint alleging hazards.

OSHA inspected the site from 30 May to 14 September but only issued the findings last week.

Cargill Meat Solutions, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, is a processor and distributor of fresh beef, pork, turkey, and cooked and marinated meats, employing about 1,800 workers at its Beardstown facility.

Brands include Angus Pride, Excel, Shady Brook Farms, Circle T Beef and Stoneside pork.

OSHA findings​

The willful violation is directing workers to perform maintenance and servicing on carbon dioxide equipment without first documenting lockout and tagout procedures designed to prevent unexpected energization, said OSHA, proposing a $70,000 fine for this violation.

“…employees were exposed to hazardous energy when performing servicing and maintenance tasks on the New Butina CO₂​ Stunner and push gates because the energy control procedures did not outline specific procedural steps for shutting down and securing machinery, placing and removing lockout or tagout devices, and provide a specific means to verify that the equipment was isolated from all energy sources prior to work on the equipment.”​

One repeat violation is failing to train workers who operate equipment on procedures to properly control hazardous energy, with a similar violation was cited in May 2009 at the company's Nebraska City, Nebraska facility.
A serious violation, with $5,500 proposed fines, is failing to document and certify periodic inspections of lockout procedures for an older model of carbon dioxide equipment.

Training responsibility​

“Cargill has a responsibility to provide training to workers about the hazards that exist in their facilities, and to respond to safety concerns expressed by workers​," said Thomas Bielema, OSHA's area director in Peoria. "

Earlier this year, Cargill Beef, a business unit of Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, announced an immediate Class I recall of 29,339 pounds of 85%-lean, fresh, ground beef produced at the company's Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, facility on 25 May due to possible contamination from Salmonella​Enteritidis.