US processor faces record fine

A large poultry processor in the USA has been fined a record $1m (£680,000) following repeated health and safety violations over more than a decade.

East Coast firm Allen Family Foods was hit with the $1.034m fine after an investigation by the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health unit (MOSH), website meatprocess.com has reported.

The latest investigation by MOSH is the 16th of Allen Family Foods since 1998, with the organisation uncovering 192 violations over that period.

“This particular employer had been a source of repeated health and safety violations over a number of years,” Maryland secretary of labor, licensing and regulation, Alexander Sanchez said.

“We must hold repeat offenders accountable for failing to do all they can to ensure worker safety.”

The latest investigation came after an incident in December of last year when an employee was seriously injured after reaching into an unguarded conveyor belt.

The investigation found a further 51 violations of occupational safety and health laws.

Earlier this year Allen Family Foods was also fined $182,200 (£124,000) by the US Federal Government occupational safety and health administration (OSHA).

The fine was due to 45 serious violations related to dangers with industrial trucks, falls, personal protective equipment, machine guarding, electrical hazards, process safety management, respirators and emergency response.

Allen Family Foods has over 3000 employees and processes 2.5m birds a week across the states of Delaware, Maryland and North Carolina and exports to Asia eastern Europe, Russia, South America and Africa.