By Safety.blr
DOL’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA) and Wage and Hour Division are looking into child labor and workplace safety violations in a Hattiesburg (Mississippi) poultry factory following the death of an employee aged 16 years old, announced the DOL on September 11.
Courtney Bohannon is the director of OSHA’s Jackson office in Mississippi. She said that federal investigators are still trying to figure out how 16-year-old Jeremy died in Hattiesburg at Mar-Jac Poultry.
OSHA secured a warrant through the U.S. District Court of Southern District of Mississippi for Mar-Jac to gain access and to conduct an investigation into the potential safety hazards associated with the incident. The warrant allows federal officials the right to interview any employee, agent, employer or operator in private and examine records related to equipment operation and maintenance.
Bohannon explained that “federal law protects workers rights to be involved in investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor, and prohibits employers interfering with this process in any manner including retaliation against employees.” We can ensure that the workplace is safer for everyone by enlisting workers from Mar Jac.
OSHA encouraged Hattiesburg Mar-Jac Poultry to submit confidential complaints online or call its Jackson-area office. It is also working in collaboration with advocacy groups, such as Immigrant Alliance For Justice & Equality of Mississippi (IAJE), to help reach immigrant workers afraid of retaliation by their employer for cooperating with investigators.
OSHA emphasized that all Americans, regardless their immigration status have the right to work in a safe, healthy environment. Workers can file a confidential report and request a OSHA inspection, if they feel there are unsafe conditions on the job.
OSHA reports that Gainesville-based Mar-Jac Poultry owns processing plants and feed mills as well as hatcheries across Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Georgia. The company exports 2 million chickens and 8,500 tonnes of feed each week to food services around the world.
Missouri contractor facing $205K OSHA fine
Troyer Roofing & Coatings of Jamesport in Missouri faces $205,369 OSHA penalties after an 18 year old employee fell 22 feet while applying sealant. The injuries were so severe that he was in a coma and died 5 days later.
OSHA said that September 8, after the employee fell, the employer let a foreman, and another worker continue to work with no fall protection, until the end of the shift.
OSHA Inspectors found that although the employer made fall protection gear available, it allowed its employees to choose whether or not to use them.
The agency’s investigators found that the contractor, on top of not training employees in fall protection and failing to enforce it, also failed to make sure workers were wearing their safety gear. Troyer Roofing also failed to give workers face and eyes protection, and did not have a written hazard-communication program.
OSHA’s Construction Industry Fall Protection Standard (29 Code of Federal Regulations SS1926.501), cited 5260 times during fiscal year (2022), is its most-cited OSHA standard. OSHA’s second-most frequently cited rule is their hazard notification standard. Their eighth and ninth highest cited rules are fall protection training, eye and facial protection and the fall prevention standard.
Karena Lorek is the director of OSHA’s Kansas City area office. She said, “Troyer Roofing & Coatings should have required their workers to wear fall-protection equipment.” It is alarming that the employer permitted other workers on the roof to do so without any fall protection.
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