OMAHA, Neb. – Fremont Beef Co., Fremont, Neb., has been cited by the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration following a safety inspection at the facility, which was initiated in February after a plant worker’s finger tip was accidentally amputated. The wounded employee was soon back on the job after the accident, according to The Associated Press.

Citations issued include one serious, one repeat and one other-than-serious violation. The serious and repeat violations are directly related to the amputation. The serious citation is for failing to ensure that lockout/tagout devices were used by authorized employees to de-energize a machine. The repeat citation is similar to a citation issued in June 2009 for this company's alleged failure to ensure affected employees were instructed on lockout/tagout energy control procedures. The other-than-serious citation is for failing to properly record injuries and illnesses.


Fremont Beef Co. faces $45,500 in proposed penalties and has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Omaha or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Les Leech, Fremont Beef Co. president, said the company is asking OSHA for an informal meeting to discuss the citations against his company, which employs 265 people.