Simplot could face fines for health and safety violations in Grand Forks french fry plant

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued J.R. Simplot Co. of Boise, Idaho, one repeat and 12 serious workplace health and safety citations at its facility in Grand Forks, N.D. Proposed penalties total $59,000.

OSHA's area office in Bismarck began an investigation in April 2010 as a result of the facility appearing on OSHA's 2009 Site-Specific Targeting inspection program. The company is a major food processor and fertilizer manufacturer.

"A repeat citation was issued for the company's failure to perform inspections and tests on process safety management equipment,"said Tom Deutscher, OSHA's area office director in Bismarck. "This repeat citation stems from a similar hazard cited during a previous OSHA inspection at the company's facility in Pocatello, Idaho."

A repeat violation is issued when an employer previously was cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last three years.

The serious citations involve the company's failure to follow process safety management-related good engineering practices, provide fall protection, perform crane inspections, provide proper machine guarding and eliminate electrical hazards. An OSHA violation is considered serious if death or serious physical harm can result from a hazard an employer knew or should have known exists.

J.R. Simplot Co. 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.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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A publication in the Grand Forks Herald provides more insight on the background of OSHA's News release:

Sue Richardson, public relations manager for Simplot at its Boise headquarters, said today she had talked to company officials there as well as plant officials in Grand Forks and learned Simplot has not yet received the report from OSHA, so she can’t comment much on it.

After hearing a reporter read most of the OSHA news release, Richardson said:

“We are obviously concerned. The health and safety of our employees are always our highest priority. We obviously take this very seriously and we will address it immediately, if there are areas that need to be addressed.”

Tom Deutscher OSHA’s area director, said OSHA, as a rule, always notifies a company first before issuing a news release about any citations. But in this case, the news release inadvertently went to the news media before Simplot was informed of the citations, and he apologized to Simplot officials, Deutscher said. “In my 32 years here, that’s the first time that’s happened,” he said of the premature release.

In an interview today, Deutscher also made clear that OSHA is not alleging any malfeasance by what he said “is a good company.”

“These were very routine, basic violations that we see out there in the work place and we are really working well with the company and they have been very cooperative.”