US packaged food company ConAgra Foods has been cited and fined for “serious violations” of health and safety over the June plant explosion that killed four people.
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The blast took place at the company’s 500,000-square-foot plant in Garner, North Carolina, that produces Slim Jim products. It caused parts of the roof to collapse, injuring more than 40 people.
Workplace inspectors have now cited ConAgra and subcontractor Energy Systems Analysts for dozens of serious safety violations in the explosion.
The North Carolina Labor Department cited ConAgra for 26 “serious violations” and one “other-than-serious violation” of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of North Carolina, with a fine of US$134,773.
The Labor Department cited Energy Systems Analysts, a subcontractor working at the plant, for 28 serious violations of the OSH Act, with a total penalty of $58,100.
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By GlobalDataAs a result of the accident, the department said it opened inspections with 15 other companies. None of the firms were cited for any violations of the OSH Act.
“Fines are issued to penalise the offending employer but also to get the attention of other employers with similar work environments. We want to learn from the set of circumstances that led to this tragic accident with the ultimate goal of educating others so this type of accident does not occur again,” the North Carolina Labor Department said.
ConAgra and Energy Systems have 15 working days to contest the citations or pay the penalties.
ConAgra could not be reached for immediate comment.
