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News Release USDL: 97-133
Thursday April 17, 1997
Contact: Tom Smith, (202) 219-8211

Cagle's, Inc., an Atlanta-based poultry processor, has agreed to make significant improvements in safety at its Macon, Ga., facility and pay $608,000 in penalties in a settlement of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citations.

"Top management is making a commitment to hire additional personnel to conduct safety training both at Macon and on a corporate-wide basis," said Cynthia Metzler, acting Secretary of Labor. "The settlement agreement furthers the efforts of both OSHA and Cagle's to provide safe workplaces and avoids the burden of prolonged litigation."

Cagle's also will furnish OSHA with the results of monthly inspections of the energy control procedures (lockout/tagout) necessary to avoid any future injuries to employees at Macon.

The agreement was signed April 15 by Ray Finney, area director of OSHA's Atlanta East area office, and Jerry Gattis, president and chief operating office of Cagle's.

Cagle's was cited by OSHA on March 25 for numerous alleged willful and serious safety violations at the Macon facility following a series of accidents that caused three workers to suffer amputations. The total proposed penalties amounted to $1.2 million Penalties were reduced because of the substantial hazard abatement program the company agreed to implement.

Inspectors found that Cagle's failed to use required procedures to ensure that hazardous machinery was turned off and remained inoperative, or "locked out" during any repair, maintenance or servicing work.

In addition to paying a penalty of $608,000, Cagle's agreed to begin the monthly inspection of lockout/tagout procedures no later than June 2, 1997; to hire a full-time safety training coordinator at the Macon plant; to hire a corporate safety training specialist and to contract with a safety consultant, who will provide guidance on lockout/tagout training and procedures.