OSHA Fines Idaho Meat-Rendering Plant Following Employee's Death

Kuna, Idaho (WorkersCompensation.com)- The April death of an employee at a meat-rendering plant owned by Darling Ingredients and subsequent OSHA inspection has resulted in $63,616 in penalties.

$42,411 of the fine had been assessed because of the company’s prior violations at two of its plants, in Bastrop, Texas, and Tampa, Fla.  Darling has failed at all three plants to implement, develop, and keep a record of procedures for the maintenance of a meat grinder, according to inspectors.

According to a media release, one of the violations that the Kuna plant was cited for was, “A barrier guard was not in place to keep employees away from the zone of danger created when pneumatic pressure was used to move the shovel cylinder guide rods in and retracted out of the grinder.” Workers in that area of the meat-grinding machine could have been hurt by flying chips, and sparks in addition to rotating parts.

Since 2014, OSHA has investigated the company 49 times, but the plant’s located in Kuna and Twin Falls Idaho had never been inspected. The agency also reports that three of the previous 48 investigations had all stemmed from work-related injuries.

Darling Ingredients uses animal waste products to produce ingredients used by manufacturers in the food, feed, pet food, fuel, pharmaceutical, bioenergy, and fertilizer industries. The corporation also processes animal fats and used cooking oil into feed and fuel.

OSHA has not made a statement regarding the investigation, since the case is still open, but has concluded that the ruling on the worker’s death was accidental. Darling Ingredients may appeal the citations or hold an informal conference for a possible settlement.

Share This Article: