Region 6 News Release: 13-274-DAL
Feb. 14, 2013
Contact: Elizabeth Todd Juan Rodriguez
Phone: 972-850-4710 972-850-4709
Email: todd.elizabeth@dol.gov rodriguez.juan@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA fines Landes Foods in Dallas $129,500 after
a follow-up inspection reveals workers continue to be exposed to hazards

DALLAS – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Landes Foods LLC with six safety and health violations, including four repeat violations, after an August follow-up inspection found workers were continuing to be exposed to workplace hazards at the company's tortilla manufacturing facility on Hines Place in Dallas. Proposed penalties total $129,500.

"Landes Foods has failed to correct violations previously cited while also continuing to expose workers to safety and health hazards that could lead to possible injuries, illnesses or worse," said Stephen Boyd, OSHA's area director in Dallas. "It is the employer's responsibility to find and fix workplace hazards."

The three repeat safety violations were cited for failing to provide quick drench and eyewash facilities for employees working with corrosive sanitation chemicals, ensure electrical receptacles had appropriate polarity and ensure the use of protective footwear. A repeat health violation was cited for failing to monitor exposure to formaldehyde released during the chip frying process. A repeat violation is issued when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Similar violations were cited in May 2010 that resulted in penalties totaling $123,200. The company contested the citations, and the case is currently in collection.

The two serious health violations were cited for failing to monitor noise level exposure and provide audiometric testing for workers exposed to noise at or above 85 decibels for an eight-hour time-weighted average. 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.

Information on preventing occupational hearing loss is available at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/hearingprograms.html.

Citations can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/LandesFoodsLLC_588658_0213_13.pdf* http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/LandesFoodsLLC_633158_0213_13.pdf*.

Landes Foods, which employs approximately 283 workers who manufacture corn and flour tortillas and precut chips, has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Dallas office or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Dallas office at 214-320-2400.

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 or CD from the COAST office upon request by calling 292-693-7828 or TTY 292-693-7755.

* Accessibility Assistance: Contact OSHA's Office of Communications at 202-693-1999 for assistance accessing PDF materials.