Region 6 News Release: 12-118-DAL
Feb. 15, 2012
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 cites California-based Bridgford Foods
for repeat and serious safety hazards at Dallas Chancellor Row facility

DALLAS – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Anaheim, Calif.-based Bridgford Foods Corp. for six serious and two repeat safety violations at one of its food manufacturing facilities in Dallas. Proposed penalties total $174,500.

OSHA's Dallas Area Office began an investigation on Aug. 23, 2011, at the company's Chancellor Row location as part of the agency's Severe Violators Enforcement Program, which mandates follow-up inspections of recalcitrant employers that have endangered workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. For more information about the program, visit http://s.dol.gov/J3.

"Bridgford Foods has a history of putting its employees at risk of serious injury," said John Hermanson, OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas. "The company needs to adhere to OSHA's standards for controlling hazardous energy and machine guarding to prevent the loss of limb and life."

The serious violations include failing to provide required machine guarding to prevent workers from coming into contact with rotating parts on drill presses, implement energy control procedures for machinery with more than one energy source, ensure that employees are trained on the use of energy control procedures, and prevent slip and "struck-by" hazards by ensuring walkways are kept clean and dry. 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 repeat violations involve failing to ensure lockout/tagout procedures of energy sources were performed by an authorized employee and that the authorized employee affixed a personal lock or tag to the group lockout device. A repeat violation exists 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. OSHA cited the company for similar violations in February 2008 with penalties of $8,000, in September 2008 with penalties of $33,900 and in January 2010 with penalties of $106,000.

Additionally, OSHA cited the company's facility on South Good Latimer Expressway in Dallas in October 2011 for 27 safety and health violations with penalties totaling $422,600.

The citations for the most recent inspection can be viewed at http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Bridgford_314184045_0215_12.pdf.*

Bridgford Foods, a producer of frozen bread dough and baked products, employs about 38 workers at the Chancellor Row facility. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Dallas area director 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, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.

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