Mexican food manufacturer Bruce Foods Corp. is facing $194,350 in fines after a worker suffered an amputation.
The El Paso, Texas-based company was cited for 24 serious safety violations.
“Moving machine parts can cause severe injuries when they are not properly guarded and safety procedures are not in place,” said OSHA El Paso Area Director Diego Alvarado Jr. “This injury could have been prevented with employee training and proper machine guarding.”
Bruce Foods failed to train employees in lockout/tagout procedures; had inadequate machine guarding and lack of fall protection; and exposed employees to live electrical parts.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings.