The Chinese Spaghetti Factory located in Boston is the subject of heavy OSHA penalties imposed since 2017.  Given the history of the company and its lack of response following OSHA inspections, the company is unresponsive to the needs of worker safety. 

During 2022, the company was fined $108,000 for series of violations including unguarded mechanical equipment, potential electrical shock from defective installations, failure to enforce appropriate lockout procedures and neglect of noise reduction, among other violations.  The Company failed to correct problems after the inspection with citations and has since been fined an additional $82,000 for a lack of response.

James Mulligan, area director for OSHA stated, “This employer’s willingness to ignore federal regulations and failure to correct workplace hazards, including one that seriously injured a worker is unacceptable.  Safety and health are a fundamental right to every worker and must be a company-wide core value.”

Audits undertaken recently have demonstrated similar deficiencies as those noted by OSHA in  feed mills, barns and packing plants. Problems are attributed to imperfect design, shoddy construction, neglect of maintenance and inadequately trained technicians. Improper supervision of untrained or demotivated maintenance workers frequently results in exposed mechanical components and hazardous electrical installations that may potentially injure workers. 

Deficiencies in training of employees, especially with regard to the use of lock-out equipment is frequently observed in houses especially with regard to feeders and conveyers.  Faulty electrical installations represent a potential shock hazard to workers and to flocks.

Slip and trip accidents can be prevented by frequent cleanup of egg material on floors in plants and in the aisles of houses. Correct positioning and maintenance of foot dips is necessary together with installation of hand-rails on stairs in multi-story houses.

Feed mills represent a potentially dangerous environment. Their complexity necessitates regular review by a qualified safety engineer to eliminate mechanical and health hazards extending from ingredient storage in silos and warehouses through feed mixing, load-out and delivery.

Cleaning of packing plants especially with untrained, underage or inadequately supervised night-crews represent a potential liability for egg-producers. Again training of crews, adherence to Standard Operating Procedures and provision of required PPE and equipment is necessary to avoid accidents. Recent reports of injury and revelations of improper employment practices have eliminated the presumption that the use of a contractor absolves owners of responsibility for incidents in their plants.

Any doubts as to the cost of non-compliance with safety should be dispelled by reference to the magnitude of fines imposed by OSHA in 1996 onwards on companies operated by Jack DeCoster following worker injuries and audits of his Turner, ME complex.