THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
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DANVILLE — Two Viscofan employees were seriously injured earlier this year, and the Danville plant’s owner Viscofan USA Inc. is facing $197,000 in fines for nine repeat, serious and other violations.
The safety violations were reported by the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Health and Safety Administration in Peoria.
The department’s OSHA inspectors responded to a report that a maintenance worker employed by Viscofan USA Inc. needed hospitalization after suffering broken bones and lacerations when the employee’s arm was caught in a roller machine on Jan. 25. During the investigation, OSHA learned another employee suffered chemical burns while cleaning a pump on Feb. 1.
According to the citations: “On or about Jan. 25, an employee on Fibrous Line 9, was exposed to an ingoing nip point from the rotating roller while conducting a servicing task. The employee was setting up rags on the rollers and the employer did not ensure the lockout procedure was utilized.”
“The employer did not ensure that the energy controls steps were applied in the sequence required by the standard: Preparation for shutdown – know the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy; Machine or equipment shutdown – perform normal and orderly stop and shutdown; Machine or equipment isolation – physically locate and operate energy isolating devices in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source; Lockout device application – affix lockout devices to each energy isolating device; Stored energy – following the application of lockout devices to energy isolating devices, all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy shall be relieved, disconnected, restrained, and otherwise rendered safe; and Verification of isolation – prior to starting work on machines that have been locked out, verify that isolation and deenergization of the machine or equipment have been accomplished.”
In the other incident, “on or about Feb. 1, an employee conducting maintenance and servicing on Vissolve Pump #7, was exposed to contact with hazardous Sodium Hydroxide. The employee was in the process of draining the pump and the employer did not ensure the lockout procedure were utilized,” according to OSHA.
The first correction deadline is Aug. 12. The company can contest the violations and penalties.
Viscofan has faced violations in the past.
“The U.S. subsidiary of one of the world’s leading maker of meat casings — with a history of dozens of serious violations since 2015 — could have prevented employees at its Danville facility from suffering severe injuries twice in the same week in January 2024 by following federally required procedures for machine safety,” the U.S. Department of Labor reported in a press release.
“In both incidents, the agency determined the company lacked adequate procedures for energy control and failed to have them in place before the workers began their tasks. OSHA also found Viscofan USA failed to train its workers on machine safety procedures, also known as ‘lockout/tag out,’ and on use of hazardous chemicals. The agency also cited the company for not reviewing energy control procedures annually,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
“Viscofan USA has a long history of violations and worker injuries at its Danville facility, with two more workers needlessly suffering severe injuries because the company again failed to implement an effective safety and health program and develop specific energy control procedures to protect workers doing maintenance,” said OSHA Area Director Edward Marshall. “Employers are responsible for training their workers and taking all necessary precautions to protect them from known hazards.”
In total, OSHA cited Viscofan for one repeat violation, seven serious violations and one other-than-serious violation and has proposed $197,054 in penalties.
Danville serves as U.S. headquarters for the global parent company founded in 1975 and based in Spain. Since 1990, Viscofan USA has operated in North America with about 700 employees in facilities in Danville, and in Montgomery, Ala., and Bridgewater, N.J.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the 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.
Viscofan could not be reached for comment.
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