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Region 2 News Release:   NY 129
April 17, 2001
Contact: Chester J. Fultz
Phone: 212-337-2319

NEW YORK -- The U. S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Global Protein Foods, Inc., of 707 Executive Blvd, Valley Cottage, NY, and proposed penalties of $142,500 against the firm, alleging three willful, seven serious, and one alleged other-than-serious violation of OSHA standards.

The citations result from an inspection of the company's facilities conducted from Oct. 19, 2000, through Jan. 3, 2001, following a complaint of unsafe working conditions, according to Philip Piest, OSHA area director in Tarrytown.

OSHA cited the company for three alleged willful violations:

- failure to ensure that employees used appropriate eye protection and failure to provide an eye wash for employees. - failure to properly guard machinery. - failure to kept exit areas free from obstructions.

The alleged willful violations carry a total proposed penalty of $132,000

The company also received seven OSHA citations for alleged serious violations:

- failure to maintain floors in as dry a condition as possible. - failure to keep aisles in good repair. - failure to properly store oxygen and acetylene cylinders. - failure to provide unobstructed access to circuit breaker panels. - failure to provide covers for electrical boxes. - failure to keep an outside exit area free from ice. - failure to develop, implement and maintain a hazard communication program.

The alleged serious violations carry a total proposed penalty of $10,500.

In addition, the company received a citation for not providing hand soap in the lavatories, an alleged other-than-serious violation.

A willful violation is defined by OSHA as one committed with an intentional disregard for, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the OSH act and regulations. A repeat violation is defined as a condition which exists where there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm can result. An other-than-serious violation is a hazardous condition that would probably not cause death or serious physical harm, but would have a direct and immediate relationship to the safety and health of employees.

The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Tarrytown area office, located at 660 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, N.Y. Telephone: (914) 524-7510.

The company has until May 7 to contest the citations.