July 28, 2016

Employer name: Bluebonnet Foods, L.P. doing business as GoodHeart Specialty Foods Co.

Location: 11122 Nacogdoches Road, San Antonio, Texas 78217

Date citations issued: July 28, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Bluebonnet Foods for 21 serious violations after receiving a complaint about unsafe working conditions at their San Antonio facility. The agency cited the company for allowing several electrical, amputation, struck-by and chemical hazards. The employer also failed to establish procedures for the control of hazardous energy sources, to install emergency eyewash stations and provide personal protective equipment, safety data sheets and effective training on chemicals used in the facility.

The investigation falls under the agency’s Regional Emphasis Program for Poultry Processing Facilities.

Proposed penalties: $104,000

View citations at: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/BluebonnetFoodsLP_1124287.pdf and http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/BluebonnetFoodsLP_1126202.pdf

Quote: “Our inspectors found Bluebonnet Foods exposing its workers to safety and health hazards that they should correct promptly,” said Alejandro Porter, OSHA’s Area Director in San Antonio. “Employers have a responsibility to identify and remedy workplace safety hazards on their own and not wait for an OSHA inspection to deal with them. That kind of approach can get employees needlessly hurt or worse.”

Information: Bluebonnet Foods L.P. produces slow-roasted, fried and grilled meats, sauces and other products for the retail, food service and food manufacturing industries under the Good Heart Specialty Foods brand. It employs approximately 300 employees at the San Antonio location. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency’s San Antonio office at 210-472-5040. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.