Region 5 News Release: 11-608-CHI
May 3, 2011
Contact: Scott Allen Rhonda Burke
Phone: 312-353-6976 312-353-4807
Email: allen.scott@dol.gov burke.rhonda@dol.gov

US Labor Department's OSHA cites Orval Kent Foods of
Delphos, Ohio, for 11 safety violations following worker injury

DELPHOS, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Orval Kent Foods Co. Inc. in Delphos for 11 safety violations after a worker suffered a puncture wound from a drill press in December 2010. The refrigerated prepared foods company faces penalties totaling $60,300.

"Employers are responsible for knowing what hazards exist in their facilities and for taking necessary precautions to ensure OSHA standards are met," said Jule Hovi, OSHA's area director in Toledo. "For 40 years OSHA has been committed to protecting workers."

Ten serious violations include various fall hazards, a lack of personal protective equipment, failure to train employees on lockout/tagout procedures to prevent accidental energy start-up, a lack of machine guarding, unsecured shelving units, failure to use electrical equipment in accordance with approved uses and leaving a forklift unattended while the engine was running. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The company also was cited with one other-than-serious violation for failing to properly record and adequately describe injuries in the OSHA 300 log. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

Orval Kent Foods Co.'s North American headquarters are located in Wheeling, Ill. In addition to its Delphos facility, the company has plants in Hildago, Texas; Baxter Springs, Kan.; Vista, Calif.; San Diego, Calif.; and Mexico. The company has more than 180 workers in Delphos and more than 650 total employees. The company previously was cited by OSHA in 2008 at its Kansas facility for power transmission deficiencies.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Employers and employees with questions regarding workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA's Toledo Area Office at 419-259-7542. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call the agency's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov

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U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.