Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors discovered a Manitowoc, Wis., malthouse exposed its employees to machine risk, respiratory protection, restricted spaces and other dangers.
OSHA proposed $174,351 in fines against Briess Industries of Chilton for the two repeated and 14 serious safety and health violations discovered in August 2022, according to a Jan. 10 U.S. Department of Commerce news release.
“Dangers like those we identified in this inspection are common in the manufacturing industry,” OSHA Area Director Robert Bonack said in the release. “Briess Industries again put workers who convert barley into malt at risk of serious machine hazards and other dangers.”
OSHA investigators said, by failing to adequately implement and periodically test procedures to control hazardous energy before servicing and maintenance, the company exposed workers to amputation and other injuries. Citations were issued in 2019 for similar violations, the release reported.
The safety inspectors said the safety and health hazards of malthouse confined spaces were not assessed and the company failed to implement requiring training for workers on confined space hazards, according to the release.
Bonack said employers have a legal responsibility to provide workers a safe and healthful workplace. Before a serious injury or worse occurs, Briess Industries must commit to following federal safety standards, Bonack added, according to the release.
