Keystone Foods, a Tyson foods subsidiary, was issued a citation last week by the Department of Labor for failing to protect its employees from “fire and explosion hazards” at its poultry plant in Camilla, Georgia, according to a department press release.
Two Keystone workers were burned when an oil-filled hose “ruptured,” resulting in fires and explosions in the boiler room on Dec. 26, 2024, the press release said. Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found that Keystone Foods did not follow the correct internal procedures or manufacturer guidelines while performing boiler pump maintenance.
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This citation is for a “serious violation” and carries a $16,550 penalty. In response, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union issued a statement criticizing the "modest fines" in response to the "near life-ending injuries."
“For a multibillion-dollar corporation like Tyson, this fine is barely a drop in the bucket," said RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum. "It sends a dangerous message: that even catastrophic failures in worker safety can be brushed aside without meaningful consequence."
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