Meat processor Jennie-O Turkey Store Inc. could face up to $318,000 in fines after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued 11 safety violations to the company's Barron, Wisconsin, slaughterhouse. A workplace injury in which a plant employee had his arm amputated just below the shoulder triggered the proposed fine.

According to an OSHA spokeswoman, on July 20, 2011, the worker was cleaning a confined tunnel in which birds are brought in to be stunned with carbon dioxide before being attached to a nearby shackle line as part of the slaughter process.

The shackle line was operative while the man worked, and his arm became caught in it, cutting it off. There was nobody and no safety equipment nearby, and the severely injured man had to walk down 25 steps and a total of 200 feet to get medical attention, OSHA said.

OSHA officials investigated the Wisconsin plant following the injury. As a result of the investigation, the agency issued 11 safety violations against the company. These included four "willful" violations, or violations committed intentionally or with obvious indifference to employee safety. Among the willful violations Jennie-O is accused of committing is failure to ensure power to the shackle line was cut off prior to the worker entering the carbon dioxide tunnel. There were also seven "serious" violations that triggered smaller fine recommendations.

Jennie-O said it was working on a response to the proposed fine. The company has the right to contest the violations or request a conference with the area OSHA director.

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "OSHA seeks fines from turkey processor," Rick Romell, Jan. 23, 2012