IOSH fines poultry processor after explosion

Iowa OSHA has fined a Postville poultry processor more than $28,000 for safety violations found after a February explosion injured two employees in the the dock area of the plant. Inspectors found the dock floor was covered with ice, dirt, bird feathers, water and manure, which caused an employee operating a powered- industrial truck on February 15 to back into a propane cylinder, puncturing it and releasing gas, which caused the explosion. The Gazette

Fed-OSHA sues New York tree company over unpaid fines in fatal accident

A complaint filed in US District Court alleges an Orange County, New York tree services company owes more than $44,000 to Fed-OSHA, which concluded an employee was struck by a tree limb because not enough rope was rolled around a friction device to control the limb as it was lowered in the in October 2016 incident. He also was not wearing a hardhat. Westchester & Fairfield County Business Journal

Employees claim tortilla manufacturer threatening them based on immigration status

Employees on the production line of a Chicago tortilla company who have filed complaints with government agencies about its labor practices allege the company, El Milagro, is unlawfully intimidating workers by warning them about their immigration status and by engaging in employee surveillance, some of it by armed security guards. El Milagro denies ever threatening employees based on immigration status. Chicago Sun-Times

Report: At least 59K meatpacking employees caught COVID

At least 59,000 meatpacking workers caught COVID-19 and 269 workers died during last year’s outbreak in the industry, which is significantly more than previously thought, according to a new U.S. House report released last week. The new estimate of infections in the industry is nearly three times higher than the 22,400 that the United Food and Commercial Workers Union has said were infected or exposed. KAKE

Court documents in Fed-OSHA dispute shed light on sale of food company

Court filings from Foundation Food Group’s legal battle with Fed-OSHA shed light on some details of the sale of the company. Prior to the sale, an employee filed a complaint of an ammonia leak back in March. The company reportedly attempted to quash a warrant from Fed-OSHA regarding ammonia refrigeration and storage systems as well as other records. Gainesville Times