Records Show Pattern of Safety Violations at Plant Before Worker’s Death
- OSHA records show, Illinois plant faced six violations across three separate incidents dating back to February 2023, exposing workers to amputation risks and dangerous chemicals in the months and years before the workplace death of a worker on Sept. 14.
- The most recent violation, issued in February, found two employees cleaning an auger were exposed to amputation hazards after Smithfield failed to lock out equipment before removing an access cover; the hazard was corrected during inspection, and the company settled for $9,931 in penalties.
- OSHA also found that inadequate training contributed to a September 2025 incident in which 19 employees were exposed to carbon dioxide, resulting in a $5,626 informal settlement.
- The company also received four citations in June 2023 after employees were exposed to chromium during welding and plasma cutting operations, including a failure to provide medical surveillance and hazard communication training, leading to three penalties of $5,844 each.
Roofing Contractor Fined $265K After Workers Exposed to 25-Foot Falls
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Calumet City, Illinois-based Araujo Construction Corp., operated by Martin Araujo, after investigations at two worksites found carpenters and laborers installing roof rafters and sheathing without fall protection, exposing them to falls of up to 25 feet.
- OSHA issued two willful violations for the missing fall protection during residential construction, along with nine repeat violations for failing to provide head and eye protection, lacking stairway handrails, and not ensuring ladders extended three feet above access points.
- The company also received a serious violation for unsafe platform access and an other-than-serious violation for missing training certifications.
- OSHA proposed $265,868 in combined penalties, and Araujo Construction has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
NSC Debuts Platform to Centralize Training and Credential Tracking
- The National Safety Council has launched SafetyAtlas, a new platform designed to bring workplace safety training, credentials, resources and other services together in a single centralized location for facility and safety leaders.
- NSC President Nick Smith said the platform aims to create a connected destination for trusted safety resources by combining NSC expertise with nonprofit and industry partners to support members, employers and workers.
- The platform lets employers, safety professionals, and HR and learning teams browse and purchase training, assign learning to individuals or groups, track completion and certificates, maintain training records and run reports.
- SafetyAtlas includes a “Safety Wallet” for storing and sharing safety credentials, with plans to expand over the coming year with additional partners, AI-enabled learning, and more.