The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) cited Bluebonnet Foods in San Antonio, TX, for numerous violations when inspectors visited after receiving notices about unsafe work conditions at their facility.

The company was doing business as GoodHeart Specialty Foods Co. and they produce meats and sauces for retail purchase and food service industries. Their San Antonio plant employs 300 workers.

They received serious violations for failing to have workers use protective equipment while working with chemicals-both for bodily protection and for eye and face protection. They received a serious violation for failing to provide an eye flushing facility when employees were working with or exposed to corrosive materials. They received serious violations for failing to properly label hazardous chemicals and for failing to properly train employees on hazardous chemicals. They were also cited for failing to ensure that machines were tagged out and could not turn on unexpectedly before employees performed maintenance or cleaning on machines. They received violations for failing to ensure machines were properly guarded to protect workers from injury, and because machines were not properly anchored to prevent them from moving around and potentially striking workers. They received a serious violation because some of their outlets were not covered with a faceplate or canopy and workers were exposed to electrical conductors.

The OSHA area director in San Antonio, Alejandro Porter, said, “Employers have a responsibility to identify and remedy workplace safety hazards on their own and not wait for an OSHA inspection to deal with them.”

The proposed penalties total $104,000.