The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has again cited Robbinsville, New Jersey, frozen food manufacturer CJ TMI Manufacturing America LLC after a worker suffered an amputation, the agency announced March 6.
OSHA cited the employer with four willful, one repeat, and three serious violations and proposed penalties totaling $551,719. The agency has inspected CJ TMI Manufacturing America 6 times in the past 5 years and placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP).
In 2022, OSHA cited CJ TMI Manufacturing America with 36 violations following a fatal fall at the plant.
Following the August 2023 amputation injury, OSHA investigators determined the company exposed workers to lockout/tagout hazards. Last fall, OSHA announced that its lockout/tagout standard (29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §1910.147) was its sixth most cited standard, cited 2,554 times in fiscal year (FY) 2023.
“This company continues to leave its workers vulnerable to hazardous conditions that threaten their safety,” Paula Dixon-Roderick, OSHA’s Marlton, New Jersey, area office director, said in an agency statement. “These hazards must be addressed immediately to prevent another incident.”
CJ TMI Manufacturing America manufactures frozen dumplings, wontons, and noodles for the Twin Marquis and Chef One brands, according to OSHA.
Kansas truck wash cited after H2S exposures
A Liberal, Kansas, truck washing company failed to protect workers from hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas as they entered over-the-road tanker trailers to clean them out, causing one worker’s fatal injuries and hospitalizing two coworkers. Red Barn Truck Wash & Service Center now faces citations for 2 willful violations and $171,680 in penalties, OSHA announced March 7.
OSHA investigators responded to a report of a September 1, 2023, incident and found that Red Barn Truck Wash & Service Center failed to evaluate the tanker trailers for hazardous conditions, including testing the atmosphere, and didn’t train workers on potential hazards before letting them enter the confined spaces—both violations of OSHA regulations.
Investigators found multiple violations of OSHA’s confined space regulations and noted that Red Barn Truck Wash lacked both respiratory and hearing protection programs and exposed workers to fall hazards of up to 9 feet while they cleaned the trailers.
“Wherever organic matter such as crops and other materials are stored, hydrogen sulfide may be present as a natural byproduct. Workers must never enter storage facilities, tankers, or other confined spaces without doing atmospheric testing and wearing protective equipment such as respirators capable of preventing inhalation of this colorless and toxic gas,” Todd Underwood, OSHA’s Wichita, Kansas, area office director, said in a statement. “Red Barn Truck Wash & Service Center must implement procedures and training immediately to protect its employees from these preventable injuries.”
Last fall, OSHA announced its respiratory protection standard (§1910.134) was its seventh most cited standard. OSHA cited 2,481 violations in FY 2023. The confined space standard, while not a “Top 10” most cited standard, contains requirements for atmospheric testing and written permits for confined space entry.