Meat casings company cited over severe worker injuries

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the U.S. subsidiary of a Spanish meat casings company after two of its employees suffered severe injuries earlier this year.

OSHA said Wednesday that it cited Danville, Illinois-based Viscofan USA Inc. for one “repeat,” seven “serious” and one “other-than-serious” violations and proposed $197,054 in penalties after one employee suffered chemical burns and another sustained severe injuries after getting an arm caught in a roller machine.

The agency said it learned about the February incident in which a worker suffered chemical burns while it was investigating the January incident involving the arm injury.

OSHA said Viscofan USA lacked adequate procedures for the control of energy and failed to train workers on machine safety procedures and on the use of hazardous chemicals.

Viscofan USA, whose parent company is Viscofan S.A., has 15 business days to contest the citation and proposed penalties.

This article was first published in Business Insurance.

Leave a Reply