ATALLA, ALA. — The US Department of Labor issued $103,245 in fines to Dean Sausage Co., an Atalla, Ala.-based meat processing and packing facility, after discovering the company failed to correct previously cited worker safety violations.

In December 2022, investigators from the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the processor for seven serious and seven other-than-serious violations. The citations were for not ensuring proper safety guards, failing to lockout/tagout machines before maintenance and servicing, using electric power and lighting installations unsafely, and exposing employees to struck-by and caught-in hazards, electric shock and burns, and hazardous chemicals.

OSHA conducted a follow-up visit in September 2023 and discovered many of the same problems. Investigators cited nine repeat violations and two serious violations, as well as one other-than-serious violation.

OSHA’s most recent visit took place in July 2024, when investigators once again cited repeat violations. This time, Dean Sausage was cited for three repeat violations for not developing, documenting and using machine-specific lockout/tagout procedures, not training employees on the lockout/tagout program and failing to develop and implement a written hazard communication program for employees exposed to hazardous chemicals. OSHA also cited two serious violations for missing electrical panel covers.

In addition to the $103,245 in penalties incurred after the July inspection, Dean Sausage faces $109,823 in penalties from the 2022 and 2023 OSHA visits.