Federal regulators with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Breedlove Foods Inc. for 12 “serious safety violations” after an employee suffered the amputation of a hand while working on a machine.
OSHA investigated in October.
OSHA said, “Investigators found that the employer did not provide a safe working environment for its employees.”
OSHA said the violations included not having an emergency stop on equipment, lacking a lockout/tagout program or procedures to power down machines before cleaning or maintenance, and allowing machines without machine guards.
OSHA’s written statement put Breedlove’s humanitarian efforts front-and-center in its written statement Tuesday.
The statement said, “Breedlove is a commercial-sized non-profit food processor that works to feed hungry people in the U.S. and more than 65 countries. It serves educational and medical institutions, nursing homes, disaster relief operations and impoverished populations abroad.”
Breedlove employs 57 people according to the statement.
“Breedlove Foods’ focus on humanitarian efforts is commendable. The company, however, must also focus on the safety and health of its employees,” said Elizabeth Linda Routh, OSHA’s area director in Lubbock.
Breedlove has 15 business days to either contest or comply with OSHA.
Breedlove provided the following written statment late Tuesday afternoon:
“As a charitable organization whose mission is to provide food and sustenance to the most vulnerable people throughout the world, Breedlove is deeply saddened by the workplace injury that occurred last year to one of our employees. Breedlove Foods is committed to providing a safe working environment for all of our employees who are all an integral part of this important mission to feed the world.”
