The U.S. Department of Labor has cited Dean Sausage Company for repeated safety violations at its Atalla, Alabama, processing facility, proposing $103,245 in penalties after a July 2024 inspection found the company continuing to expose workers to hazards identified in earlier investigations.
Inspectors from the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that Dean Sausage had not corrected safety issues identified during inspections in December 2022 and September 2023. The most recent violations include three repeat offences for failing to implement machine-specific lockout/tagout procedures, not training employees on the lockout/tagout program, and not developing a written hazard communication program for workers exposed to hazardous chemicals. OSHA also cited two serious violations for missing electrical panel covers.
“Putting employees at risk by neglecting safety is a reckless way to operate,” said OSHA Area Office Director Joel Batiz in Birmingham, Alabama. “Dean Sausage Company’s repeated disregard for worker safety shows a troubling priority of profits over people. The company must correct its disturbing workplace safety failures before an employee suffers a needless injury or worse.”
The July 2024 penalties follow citations totalling $109,823 issued after the earlier inspections. In 2022, OSHA investigators found 14 violations, including inadequate safety guards on machinery, improper lockout/tagout procedures, and unsafe use of electrical power and lighting. Inspectors also identified struck-by and caught-in hazards, risks of electric shock and burns, and exposure to hazardous chemicals. Similar hazards were observed during the 2023 inspection, leading to nine repeat violations, two serious violations, and one other-than-serious violation.
Dean Sausage Company, founded in 1955, produces fresh and frozen sausage products for grocery retailers across the southern United States. OSHA’s investigation is part of a national emphasis program designed to address amputation risks in manufacturing by enforcing safety standards and increasing awareness among employers and workers.
The agency said it would continue to hold Dean Sausage accountable until the company improves its safety practices.