CINCINNATI, OHIO – Food processor Zwanenberg Food Group USA Inc.  agreed to $1.7 million in penalties in addition to investing $1.9 million in safety improvements at its Cincinnati facility to resolve several investigations by the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The settlement agreement includes safety improvements, with the final order on the matter coming to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission on June 13.

Over the last two years, Zwanenberg was cited by OSHA twice in September 2022 and December 2023, following investigations into injuries suffered by two temporary workers at the plant.

Inspectors from the agency determined that the processor exposed workers to hazards, allowing machinery to operate without required safety guards during production and not de-energizing equipment during sanitation operations.

“By agreeing to make extensive safety improvements and work with OSHA and industry experts to address workplace hazards, Zwanenberg Food Group will be better equipped to ensure the safety and protect the lives of current employees and future workers at its Cincinnati production facility,” said Bill Donovan, regional administrator for OSHA in Chicago.

Other parts of the settlement Zwanenberg agreed to for safety improvements include: 

·        An analysis by an independent third-party auditor of all equipment. 

·        Develop and re-write lockout/tagout procedures for all equipment.

·        Enhance machine guarding.

·        Train employees on the new machine safety procedures, including lockout/tagout.

·        Ensure each employee uses and applies their own HASP lock during third-shift sanitation.

·        Transition most of its workforce to permanent employees within six months.

·        Meet with OSHA at least quarterly to discuss safety and health issues.

·        Retain a third-party consultant to audit all personal protective equipment, hazardous communication and lockout/tagout programs. 

·        Continue the company’s recently adopted “Pre-Startup Safety Review.”

·        Conduct an independent audit of its safety training programs. 

·        Implement a “Stop Work for Safety” program including awards and recognition.

·        Continue its “Near-Miss Reporting Program” and daily discussions of issues at production meetings.

·        Implement a learning management system for all employees and schedule mandatory monthly computer-based safety training.

·        Conduct on-board safety training for all new employees. 

·        Develop a corporate wide safety and health management system that includes input from management and workers and the creation of a safety committee.

Zwanenberg Food Group USA Inc. is a subsidiary of Holland’s Zwanenberg Food Group. The company runs 12 food production facilities in the United States, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. 

Product line for Zwaneberg’s includes cooked ham, chili, luncheon meat, soups, stew, corned beef hash and pastas marketed under the Vietti, Southgate, Halal and other private label brands. OSHA stated that about 175 people work at the Cincinnati plant.