Chicken processing plant hit with repeat workplace safety violations

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Wednesday it cited an Ohio chicken processing plant with a long history of violations after inspectors found continued workplace hazards during a follow-up investigation.

OSHA cited Winesburg-based Case Farms Processing Inc. for three repeat, seven serious and four other-than-serious violations related to machine guarding and other failures.

The citation followed an August 2023 inspection.

OSHA said the company failed to use lockout/tagout procedures, didn’t install proper machine guarding to protect workers from contacting moving parts, and exposed employees to fall and electrical hazards.

Case Farms was assessed $393,449 in proposed penalties.

The company has been cited 70 times since 1988 at its facilities in North Carolina and Ohio, resulting in 450 violations, OSHA said.

Case Farms has 15 business days to contest the latest citation and proposed penalties.