HOWELL, N.J. – A follow-up investigation of Hamiltime Herb Co. LLC, a pet food manufacturer, found employees exposed to health and safety hazards and the company facing penalties totaling $152,829, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the US Dept. of Labor reported.

OSHA cited the company for failing to implement lockout-tagout programs to protect workers from unexpected machine startup and a respiratory protection program for employees. The company also failed to adequately train and certify employees on operating a forklift and exposed workers to unguarded machinery. The most recent investigation is a follow up to two probes in July and August 2017 when a worker had four fingers amputated after a batch mixer unexpectedly activated during cleaning, OSHA noted.

Hamiltime Herb Co. has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.