The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a whey processing plant located in Wausau, Wisconsin a total of 1.14 million USD in penalties for their workplace safety violations. The amount is the second highest for this year that OSHA has sought against violators, according to Brad Mitchell of the US Department of Labor.

Milk Specialties Global of Whitehall will have to answer to OSHA’s citations against them that their plant has unaddressed safety hazards. The company was allegedly allowing untrained workers to do maintenance work around tanks and power equipment without protection. In the past couple of years, five fatalities have also been recorded at the plant. The accidents were reportedly due to confined space entry issues—all of which could have been prevented from happening. OSHA has stated that the proposed penalties involved 17 willful violations that were committed with “plain indifference or intentional disregard” for employee safety and health. Citations for 4 repeat violations and 17 serious violations—including unchecked fire extinguishers, lack of lighting and signs for exits, and improper guarding of wall and floor openings—were also laid down. Mitchell added that Milk Specialties had been given 15 days to respond and to attend to OSHA’s citations.

Trevor Tomkins, Chief Executive of Milk Specialties, expressed in behalf of the company their surprise and dismay over the alleged violations that led OSHA to cite and penalize the processing plant. According to Tomkins, the allegations were unfair as they employed only eight workers and that their recorded workplace injury had only been one. Tomkins, however, stressed that they were willing to work hand in hand with OSHA to resolve the matter as they were committed to employee safety.

And what can be learned from this recent OSHA citation? Compliance to safety rules and regulations is still the key. Plants as worksites are hazardous by nature and workers have to be looked out for by the management to ensure safety. Here are some safety points to remember:

• Identify and address safety hazards as early as they arise. Do not neglect attending to such worksite issues—and neither should anyone wait for any mishap or accident to occur before safety measures are taken.
• Train your employees and get them educated on safety. OSHA requires a 10/30 Hour Training Program for General Industry that will equip your workers on the basics of workplace safety. Make sure that you don’t get left behind!
• Have your employees wear and use all the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while on the job—especially in tasks involving equipment and other risky setups.
• OSHA has safety regulations for confined space. Get a hold of the guidelines, inform your employees, and implement the rules in your worksite.
• Plants are fire hazards, so always give importance to taking fire safety measures in your own plant. Update your fire extinguishers, properly maintain your fire exits, and utilize a fire safety plan.
• Put up all the necessary guards, whether on any equipment or on every working and walking surface in your plant.

Compliance to safety rules and regulations will not only keep you in good reputation with OSHA, it will also—and most importantly—ensure safety and health in your workplace and for your workers. Keep healthy and safe.