The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the company for the alleged violations following an inspection that took place between March 28 and August 12, which was conducted as a follow up inspection to an accident investigation from over a year ago. The just-completed inspection also incorporated a comprehensive review of the workplace based on OSHA's national emphasis program for food processing industries.
As a result of the inspection, Cantisano Foods Inc. was cited for 10 alleged serious violations, which included a proposed penalty of $28,500 for failing to provide safe mobile ladders; provide emergency exit directional signs where exits were not readily visible; ensure employees using liquids and powders that could injure the eyes wore proper protective glasses; ensure that fire extinguishers were readily available for use; ensure that propane tanks were properly secured to forklift trucks; guard the punch point on an ironworker machine; ensure access to electrical power panels was kept clear; label products in secondary containers; ensure employees using liquids and powders understood the hazards; and several items concerning the overexposure of employees to high levels of workplace noise.
Cantisano Foods was also cited for two alleged repeat violations, carrying proposed penalties of $50,000 for failing to train temporary employees in lockout/tagout standard requirements for dealing with hazardous energy releases in the workplace; and for failing to inform and educate temporary employees in evacuation and/or fire procedures.
