OSHA Cites Jennie-O Turkey Store

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has accused Jennie-O Turkey Store of 11 safety violations at its Barron plant in connection with an accident last July.

An employee’s arm was severed below the shoulder while cleaning some equipment in a confined space. OSHA says the employee was working alone and had to walk down a flight of stairs and across the production floor to get help. Mark Hysell, at OSHA’s Eau Claire office, says the company failed to protect the employee through proper training and adherence to OSHA regulations.

OSHA is proposing $318,000 in fines. Jennie-O Turkey Store says it’s working on a response to the citations. The company employs 1,200 workers in Barron. Jennie-O is based in Willmar, Minn., and is a division of Hormel Foods of Austin, Minn.