Since 2015, OSHA published six investigations into Taylor Farms’ Swedesboro, New Jersey fresh-cut vegetable processing facility.
These investigations included multiple fingertip amputations involving both food slicers and unguarded conveyors/turntables. Several temporary sanitation employees were affected.
After a worker was killed while cleaning and sanitizing a machine, OSHA cited Taylor Farms for 16 safety violations, proposing penalties over $1 million.
Lockout/tagout not followed during slicer jam clearing
On March 14, the tip of an employee’s left ring finger was amputated while clearing a jam from a Maxwell Chase Tomato Slicer MCT25, referred to by Taylor Farms as a "Denester.”
Following a March 19 investigation, the agency issued five citations totaling $297,914. All violations cited 29 CFR §1910.147 - Control of hazardous energy (also known as lockout/tagout):
Energy control procedure
- Standard: 29 CFR §1910.147(c)(4)(ii)
- $16,550 penalty
- Description: The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance.
- Observed violation: The energy control procedure for the MCT25 did not:
- Contain a specific statement on the intended use of the procedure
- Clearly and specifically outline the steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking, and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy
- Specifically outline the requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy control measures while servicing this equipment, including clearing jams, sanitizing, and repairing.
Periodic inspection
- Standard: 29 CFR §1910.147(c)(6)(i)
- $16,550 penalty
- Description: The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed.
- Observed violation: The employer did not conduct an annual audit of the MCT25 energy control procedure to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed by employees when cleaning, unjamming, and maintaining the slicer.
Machine or equipment isolation
- Standard: 29 CFR §1910.147(d)(3)
- $165,514 penalty
- Description: All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s).
- Observed violation and accident: Employees did not isolate the slicer from all energy sources when unjamming tomato trays from the machine, exposing the employee whose fingertip was amputated to an ingoing nip point.
Lockout/tagout device application
- Standard: 29 CFR §1910.147(d)(4)(i)
- $0 penalty
- Description: Lockout/tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees.
- Observed violation: Lockout/tagout devices were not affixed by authorized employees in the Fruit Room when employees performed activities including, but not limited to, clearing jams from the slicer.
Training and communication
- Standard: 29 CFR §1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A)
- $99,300 penalty
- Description: Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.
- Observed violation: Authorized employees who cleared jams in the slicer were not trained on lockout tagout procedures in the Fruit Room.
- Prior violation: Taylor Farms was previously cited in 2022 for a violation of §1910.147(c)(7)(i)(B). A temporary staffing sanitation worker at the company’s Chicago, Illinois facility had not been trained in lockout/tagout as an affected employee. Exposed to hazards of an ingoing nip point on a conveyor, the employee's left index fingertip was amputated while cleaning a conveyor roller.
Taylor Farms contested all violations in this inspection report.
Machine guarding, electrical, noise exposure hazards
On July 28, 2019, a temporary employee was packing salad containers into a box on a spinning turn table in the pack out area. His finger was caught in a nip point gap between the table and the side border protector.
The employee’s left pinky fingertip was amputated, and he was treated without hospitalization.
Following an Aug. 6 investigation, OSHA issued two citations totaling $38,644, reduced to $25,000:
Subpart S - Electrical
- Standard: 29 CFR §1910.303(b)(1)
- $9,472 penalty, reduced to $4,000
- Description: Examination - Electric equipment shall be free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.
- Observed violation: Employees were exposed to electrical hazards in the packing area from a 480 volt cable with damaged insulation that powered the turn table (lazy susan) used to distribute boxes before they are packed by employees.
Machine guarding
- Standard: 29 CFR §1910.212(a)(1)
- $29,172 penalty, reduced to $21,000
- Description: One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips, and sparks, such as barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.
- Observed violation: Machine guarding was not provided to protect operators and other employees from hazards created by ingoing nip points and rotating parts in the Prepack Salads area, resulting in the employee fingertip amputation.
- Prior violation: Taylor Farms was previously cited in 2015 for a violation of this standard. A temporary sanitation worker was injured when his hand entered through an unguarded opening along a conveyor belt and became caught on the moving belt. This investigation also discovered unsafe noise exposure and a lack of adequate hearing protection.
Taylor Farms settled both the 2019 and 2015 citations informally.
Three additional investigations did not list any violations. The ongoing investigation and one from Jan. 2023 emphasized amputation risk, and one from Jan. 2024 responded to a health-related fatality or catastrophe (Fat/Cat).
Safety resources to prevent amputations
OSHA provides guidance for organizations on proper program setup, training, and procedures for both lockout/tagout and machine guarding.
- Hazardous energy control guidelines describe proper lockout/tagout practices and procedures that can safeguard workers from hazardous energy releases, including a fact sheet.
- Machine guarding guidelines provide information on the various hazards of mechanical motion and techniques for protecting workers, including a Quick Card on amputation protection.
Following the incident at Taylor Farms, OSHA updated its National Emphasis Program (NEP) to identify and reduce or eliminate amputation hazards in manufacturing industries.
