The Dallas-based firm was hit by proposed penalties of $66,900 by the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The worker was injured by an industrial screw conveyor while cleaning the packaging machine.
BCW Food Products is a manufacturing company that specializes in custom mixes, bases and concentrates. It has three manufacturing facilities and warehouses in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Illinois.
Repeat violation
OSHA began its investigation in February at the Denton Drive facility and found it was the second time in less than a year that the firm had failed to comply with regulations which safeguard lockout and tagout equipment energy sources.
It cited the employer with one willful violation for failing to ensure lockout or tagout devices were affixed by authorized workers to each of the energy-isolating devices.
The repeat violation was cited for failing to indicate the identity of the worker who applied the lockout and tagout devices.
A repeat violation is when an employer previously cited for the same or a similar violation at another facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. A similar violation was cited in November 2012.
Employer responsibility
“These energy sources can easily expose workers to amputation, as they did in this case," said Stephen Boyd, OSHA's area director in Dallas.
"Had the employer followed OSHA standards, this incident could have been prevented. Employers must take their responsibilities under the law seriously."
The serious violation was cited for failing to train and ensure that workers understood the purpose and function of the energy control program; the company also did not ensure workers acquired the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage and removal of the energy controls.
“OSHA’s process allows our company to respond to the citations OSHA has issued, and we will do so at the appropriate time,” said a BCW Food Products statement in response to the findings.
“Our company is working with OSHA to ensure that all of our valued team members have a safe work environment and follow the safety procedures that are part of their training.”