OSHA Fines Chicken Processing Facility in New York

A chicken processing facility in New York is facing federal fines after an inspection from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), according to WorkersCompensation.com. The Murray’s Chickens facility, a subsidiary of MB Consultants Ltd., was cited for a total of 8 safety violations.

The inspection was conducted in November 2011 at the facility in South Fallsburg. OSHA discovered the lockout switches for energy sources were not working properly, which is considered a more serious violation. If the lockouts are not working properly machinery can abruptly start and stop, resulting in worker injury or a fatality.

“The absence of adequate machine guarding and hazardous energy control procedures exposes workers to the dangers of lacerations, amputations and crushing injuries, should they become caught in operating or unexpectedly activated machinery,” said regional OSHA director Kimberly Castillion. “Such conditions should be addressed and abated quickly and effectively.”

Murray’s Chicken was also cited for failure to review illnesses and injury logs accurately, both of which are secondary violations. MB Consultants has 15 business days to agree to pay the fines or request a hearing.

Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus workers comp attorneys.

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