Nebraska Company Cited Following Fatal Forklift Accident

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Progressive Protein LLC of Omaha, Neb., for alleged safety and health violations following a fatal accident.

An employee died after a forklift overturned and pinned the employee under the overhead protective cage. OSHA’s inspection found three alleged serious and one alleged other-than-serious violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

“This worker’s family will be forever changed; there is no excuse for this accident,” said Charles Adkins, OSHA’s regional administrator in Kansas City, Mo. “It is imperative that employers eliminate hazards, provide a safe working environment for employees and prevent accidents from occurring.”

The serious violations relate to a lack of proper training and inadequate supervision of powered, industrial-truck-operators-in-training and energy control procedures, as well as a lack of seat belt use. OSHA issues a serious citation when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which an employer knew or should have known.

The other-than-serious violation relates to inadequate injury recordkeeping. OSHA issues other-than-serious citations when the violation is directly related to safety and health but unlikely to cause death or serious physical harm.

OSHA is proposing $15,675 in penalties against the company. Progressive Protein has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director in Omaha or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA, www.osha.gov