The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed significant fines for Dean Sausage Co. following a recent follow-up inspection. The inspection revealed seven repeat violations at the company’s Attalla, Alabama facility, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $116,153.
Among the violations cited by OSHA were the failure to implement machine-specific lockout/tagout procedures and inadequate machine guarding, both of which could potentially lead to struck-by and caught-in hazards for employees.
In addition to these serious violations, Dean Sausage Co. was also cited for issues related to exit maintenance, hazard communication programs, and safety data sheet management. Two serious violations were issued for lacking lockout/tagout procedures to protect employees during machine operations.
This isn’t the first time Dean Sausage Co. has found itself in OSHA’s crosshairs. In an initial inspection conducted in 2022, the company was cited for 14 violations, resulting in proposed penalties exceeding $37,000.
Dean Sausage Co., which employs 85 workers at its Attalla facility, produces meat products distributed to retailers across the southern United States.
Despite repeated attempts to reach out, Dean Sausage Co. has not responded to requests for comment on the matter.
