OSHA cites Pilgrim’s in response to Alabama fatality

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Pilgrim’s Pride for four alleged workplace safety violations following the January death of a worker at the Pilgrim’s Pride plant in Guntersville, Alabama.

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designer491, Bigstockphoto.com
designer491, Bigstockphoto.com

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Pilgrim’s Pride for four alleged workplace safety violations following the January death of a worker at the Pilgrim’s Pride plant in Guntersville, Alabama.

A man died from injuries sustained in a January 6, 2020, accident at the Guntersville facility. Gabriel Seth Brutley had fallen three floors while on a vertical reciprocating conveyor (VRC) shipping elevator with a forklift and a pallet of goods.

An OSHA inspection of the Guntersville facility followed that day, according to information provided by OSHA spokesman Eric Lucero, and the outcome of that inspection led to four citations.

On July 1, two citations were issued. One citation alleges Pilgrim’s Pride did not furnish a work environment in which workers were free from being exposed to falls or crushing hazards because loads on the VRC exceeded the rated capacity, the wire rope supporting the VRC carriage was unserviceable, and the VRC did not have a falling platform safety device that could adequately stop a fall in the event of mechanical failure.

A second citation issued on July 1 alleged that caution signs were not used to warn against potential hazards related to the VRC.

Earlier, on June 22, two other citations were issued. One of those citations alleged procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energies when employees at the Guntersville facility were cleaning under a vertical reciprocating conveyor, exposing employees to crushing hazards on or about December 23, 2019.  The other citation alleged employees stood under or passed under an elevated portion of a powered industrial truck. That incident also allegedly took place on December 23.

Each citation carries with it a potential fine of $13,494, Lucero said.

While citations have been issued, Lucero said Pilgrim’s Pride is still within the allowed time period in which it can discuss issues related to the citations and proposed penalties, request a conference with the OSHA area director, or submit a written notice of contest.

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