Fed fines company $1.7 million after workers injured at Green Township plant

GREEN TOWNSHIP, Ohio – The federal government fined Zwanenberg Food Group $1.7 million after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found multiple violations at its Green Township plant.

Part of the settlement calls for the company to invest $1.9 million in safety improvements.

Improvements include:

• Have an analysis of all devices carried out by an independent external auditor;
• Develop and rewrite lockout/tagout procedures for all devices;
• improving machine protection;
• Training employees on new machine safety procedures, including lockout/tagout;
• Develop a company-wide safety and health management system that includes management and worker input and the establishment of a safety committee;
• The majority of the workforce will be converted to permanent employees within six months.

“By agreeing to make significant 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 and future employees at its Cincinnati manufacturing facility.” said OSHA Regional Administrator Bill Donovan.
The fines come after two temporary workers lost body parts while working at the meat processing plant.

A 29-year-old employee suffered life-threatening injuries after falling into an industrial mixer in October 2022, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Labor. OSHA found that Zwanenberg Food Group in Green Township ignored safety standards.

The employee had to have his leg amputated after nine months there.

Despite being indicted and fined over $1 million for company violations uncovered after that incident, OSHA was again called to the food processing plant to investigate after another contract worker lost a finger in 2023, according to a U.S. Department of Labor press release .

The worker reached into the outlet of a meat grinder, which did not have the necessary safeguards, OSHA found.

After investigating the most recent incident, OSHA cited the company for two repeat violations: failing to require machine guards at an exhaust port and failing to train employees in the company’s lockout/tagout processes.