OSHA cites Del Monte Foods after Plover worker partially amputates finger

Caitlin Shuda, Stevens Point Journal
2 min read
0

PLOVER – Del Monte Foods has been cited for safety violations after a worker’s finger was partially amputated while clearing an unguarded machine.

According to a Monday morning release from the U.S. Department of Labor, the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found the California-based company lacked machine guarding and safety procedures and exposed employees to machine hazards. OSHA determined the 20-year-old seasonal worker's injury while trying to unjam an unguarded palletizer machine was preventable.

Del Monte Foods informed OSHA of the injury within 24 hours, as required.

A pallet dispenser will automatically release pallets to the palletizing line so canned products can be stacked and wrapped for distribution. According to the Department of Labor, investigators learned workers frequently used their hands to redirect stuck pallets and were not trained to recognize or safely control hazardous energy sources while unjamming items.

According to the release, OSHA issued a citation for “two repeated and six serious safety violations of machine safety and fall protection standards,” with proposed penalties of $222,779. OSHA also said Del Monte Foods had a lack of handrails and anti-slip coatings, which exposed workers to fall hazards on ladders and stairs.

“Del Monte Foods Inc. is aware of the importance of training their seasonal workers on machine safety procedures and making sure required machine safeguards are in place,” said Robert Bonack, OSHA’s area director in Appleton. “If the company had followed OSHA safety standards, they could have prevented this young worker from needlessly suffering a lifelong disabling injury.”

Del Monte had 15 business days from its receipt of the citation and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before an independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

The Plover facility produces 14 million cases of canned vegetables annually, according to the release.

In 2019, OSHA also cited Del Monte Foods for similar violations at another facility in Markesan, according to the release.

More:The body of a missing 20-year-old University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student was pulled from the Wisconsin River

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Contact Caitlin at cshuda@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.

This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: OSHA cites Del Monte Foods after Plover worker amputates finger

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