OSHA cites poultry processor for amputations, other serious hazards

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Thursday it has cited Koch Foods of Gainesville L.L.C. for multiple safety and health violations at its poultry processing plant and proposed penalties of $208,977.

The Georgia-based Koch Foods was cited with a repeat violation for failing to provide machine guarding and exposing employees to amputation hazards as a result of OSHA’s inspections from August to October. Fourteen serious citations were issued for “failing to provide fall protection, not identifying which employees were using hazardous energy control locks and failing to train employees exposed to noise hazards,” the department said in a statement.

OSHA has also issued two other-than-serious citations to the employer, according to the statement.

“This company failed to protect its employees from serious hazards by disregarding important workplace safety requirements,” William Fulcher, Atlanta-based area office director, said in the statement. “Employers must identify and correct hazards to ensure the safety and health of their employees.”

Koch Foods could not be immediately reached for comment.