Department of Labor inspection finds Hanover Foods subsidiary exposing South Jersey employees to workplace safety dangers, proposes $463K penalty
Aunt Kitty’s Food Inc. cited for willful, repeat, serious safety violations
A recent inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) uncovered several safety violations at Aunt Kitty’s Food Inc., a subsidiary of Hanover Foods Corp. in Vineland, NJ. The investigation revealed that workers were being exposed to workplace safety dangers due to inadequate safety measures in place.
Violations Found
OSHA cited Aunt Kitty’s Food Inc. for seven safety violations, including one willful violation, two repeat violations, and four serious violations. Some of the violations included:
- Failure to develop and follow a lockout/tagout program for maintenance and sanitation staff working on production equipment.
- Failure to maintain a clean and dry work floor after leaks occurred.
- Lack of proper guarding on a conveyor system.
- Failure to train workers on lockout/tagout procedures.
- Failure to conduct annual lockout/tagout audits.
- Failure to provide baseline and annual audiograms for workers.
Importance of Safety Measures
Ensuring that proper safety measures are in place, such as lockout/tagout procedures, can prevent serious injuries and create a safe work environment for employees. OSHA Area Director Paula Dixon-Roderick emphasized the importance of following safety protocols to prevent workplace accidents.
Next Steps
Aunt Kitty’s Food Inc. has 15 business days to comply with the citations and penalties, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
About Aunt Kitty’s Food Inc.
Aunt Kitty’s Food Inc. is a subsidiary of Hanover Foods Corp. that manufactures canned goods under various brands. In addition to its Vineland plant, the company operates manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania and Guatemala.
For more information about OSHA and workplace safety, visit OSHA’s website.