Worker Falls into Vat; World’s Largest Sauerkraut Cannery Fined $143.5K

A Wisconsin food cannery faces $143,550 in federal penalties after a 35-year-old worker fell more than 17 feet into an empty sauerkraut vat and broke multiple bones. It marks the fourth time since 2011 that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited GLK Foods LLC for failing to protect workers from fall and machine hazards.

On April 13, OSHA issued one willful, two repeat, five serious and one-other-than serious safety violations to the Bear Creek cannery after the Oct. 27, 2015, injury inspection. The agency found similar violations at the facility in 2013 and 2015.

OSHA said its inspectors found GLK Foods failed to:

• Protect employees from falls while working on top of cabbage fermentation vats and elevated platforms by providing fall arrest equipment and installing guard railings.
• Develop procedures and implement permit confined space requirements including testing atmospheric conditions and providing emergency and rescue equipment.
• Install safeguards on moving conveyor parts.
• Keep floor holes covered to prevent slips and falls.
• Use locking devices to prevent unintentional operation of conveyors.

GLK Foods is the world’s largest sauerkraut manufacturer. Its facilities in Bear Creek and Shortsville, N.Y. process 140,000 tons of raw cabbage annually.

The company had 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA

Topics Workers' Compensation