Bridgford Foods fined $212,000 for workplace safety issues

Bridgford Foods Processing Corp. in Chicago could face up to $212,000-worth of fines as the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has said it did not supply adequate safety training to employees.

The meat processor has been issued with ten safety citations, including for having locked exit doors, failing to provide lockout/tagout or electrical safety training, failing to provide a load backrest extension on a powered industrial truck to minimize the hazard of material falling and failing to specifically outline energy control procedures, according to OSHA.

"By failing to train employees and enforce lockout/tagout procedures, Bridgford Foods placed employees in danger of serious injury from equipment that was not properly de-energized," said OSHA's area director in Calumet City, Illinois Gary Anderson. "OSHA is committed to ensuring that workers are provided a safe and healthful workplace."

More information is available here.