Poor housekeeping could cost Pilgrims Pride more than $80,000 in fines. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration has cited the companys Enterprise, Ala., facility for six alleged safety violations, two of which are repeat violations carrying a combined $77,000 in penalties.
Total proposed fines equal $85,800.
OSHA charged the plant, which produces chicken feed, following a March inspection. There it allegedly discovered an excessive accumulation of grain dust as the result of a housekeeping program that was neither followed nor maintained. Further, the agency said Pilgrims Pride allowed electrical components such as motors and drop lights to be subject to the accumulation of combustible dust.
OSHA says both discoveries are repeat violations. OSHA also charged the company with two serious violations for an uncovered junction box and exposing workers to fall hazards. Fines total $6,600.
Allegedly poor recordkeeping of workplace injuries for the years 2008 and 2009 also drew two other-than-serious citations for the company, resulting in $2,200 in penalties.
Pilgrims Pride has 15 days to comply with or contest the findings, or to request a meeting with an OSHA representative.
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