Birdsboro Kosher Farms has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for allegedly committing two willful and eight serious safety and health violations at its plant in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania.
OSHA conducted an inspection on April 2 at the facility, after receiving a report that a worker had suffered a thumb amputation while operating a mixing machine at the plant. OSHA staff members were also at the plant to conduct follow-up inspections to ensure that the workplace was free of workplace hazards that were discovered in prior visits over the last three years, according to an agency press release.
Safety violations allegedly discovered
Upon the inspection, OSHA inspectors found what it called a “deficient system for protecting workers from the hazards associated with the unexpected start-up of machinery” and issued the willful citations.
The serious violations alleged include uncovered floor holes, a deficient hearing conservation program, inadequate egress signage, the company’s failure to secure compressed gas cylinders, a failure to provide sanitary protective equipment or specialty foot protection at no cost to employees, and failure to post permit-required confined space signs.
Birdsboro Kosher Farms faces fines of up to $317,477 related to the citations. It has 15 business days to comply, request a conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings.
Birdsboro Kosher Farms, according to its website, processes chickens raised without antibiotics and in line with kosher standards. The chickens are raised on small, local family farms by Amish and Mennonite family farmers.
