2 workers suffer severe injuries within a week, meat casing manufacturer fined $197K by OSHA 

2 workers suffer severe injuries within a week, meat casing manufacturer fined $197K by OSHA 

July 31, 2024
The company was ultimately cited for one repeat violation, seven serious violations, and one other-than-serious violation.

An OSHA investigation has determined that Viscofan USA Inc. could have prevented the severe injuries of two workers within the same week. According to OSHA, Viscofan, which is a U.S. subsidiary of a meat casing manufacturer, failed to follow federally required procedures for machine safety. The first incident occurred when a maintenance worker’s arm got caught in a roller machine, causing broken bones and lacerations. The second incident occurred when a worker was cleaning a pump and suffered chemical burns. The company was ultimately cited for one repeat violation, seven serious violations, and one other-than-serious violation. These violations include failing to implement adequate procedures for energy control, not properly training employees on machine safety and handling hazardous chemicals, and failing to review energy control procedures annually. Viscofan faces $197,054 in penalties. 

What people are saying

In a recent quote, OSHA Area Director Edward Marshall said, “Viscofan USA has a long history of violations and worker injuries at its Danville facility, with two more workers needlessly suffering severe injuries because the company again failed to implement an effective safety and health program and develop specific energy control procedures to protect workers doing maintenance. Employers are responsible for training their workers and taking all necessary precautions to protect them from known hazards.” 

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About the Author

Alexis Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector. 

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