OSHA has proposed a fine of $136,532 against BEF Foods Inc., a Bob Evans Farms company, for a September 2020 incident at its plant in Lima, OH.
OSHA said that while cleaning an auger used to rice potatoes, a 39-year-old production worker found her left arm caught in the machine.
The worker suffered multiple lacerations and the partial amputation of her arm. Co-workers had to cut the auger apart to free her arm.
An OSHA investigation found BEF failed to enact lockout/tagout on the auger and failed to train employees on the procedure’s necessity during maintenance.
OSHA cited BEF for two repeat violations of machine safety standards.
The same BEF plant was cited for similar violations in 2016.
BEF produces and distributes refrigerated potato, pasta and vegetable side dishes, pork sausage and other convenience food items.