The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Kerry Inc. for failing to provide fall protection in its facility in Greenville, Missouri. The company faces $223,525 in penalties for one willful and eight serious safety violations.
The citations come after an employee fatally trying to extinguish a fire at the plant.
After an April 2019 inspection, OSHA determined that the company failed to designate, train and educate a fire brigade properly on how to respond to such emergencies, evaluate hazards to determine the need for personal protective equipment, provide approved self-contained breathing apparatus, complete required safety data sheets and repair damaged parts. OSHA placed Kerry Inc. in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
"This preventable tragedy should remind all employers of their obligation to evaluate their training programs and safety procedures continually, and to provide refresher training to ensure that workers are prepared for potential emergencies," says OSHA St. Louis Area Director Bill McDonald.
Kerry Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or content the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
