The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration established a Local Emphasis Program in Wisconsin to reduce workplace dangers in food production facilities.
The program aims to improve the protection of workers from machine and amputation hazards in Wisconsin food manufacturing facilities, according to an April 21 Department of Labor release. Reportedly, food production facilities have nearly 24 percent higher injury rates than other industries.
“The food production industry continues to be staffed in part by seasonal and temporary laborers who may not be fully aware of their rights or they may be afraid to communicate safety concerns,” OSHA Regional Administrator William Donovan in Chicago said, according to the release. “Employers must protect their workers whether they are employed for a day, a season or year-round.”
This can be accomplished by planning their training and orientation programs to emphasize proper safety precautions and ensure they explain those safety procedures in a language workers can understand, he said, the release reported.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration registered various fatalities, dozens of amputations, fractures and workers with crushed hands or fingers from 2014 to 2020, according to the release.
Outreach will be conducted by OSHA to employers, professional associations, apprenticeship programs, local safety councils, hospitals and occupational health clinics, the release reported. Employers will be encouraged to use the agency’s free consultation services to implement safety strategies.
