OSHA issues hazard alert to address severe injuries in food processing

Between 2015 and 2022, there were about 1,500 injuries involving food/beverage process machinery and butchering machinery reported to OSHA, with another almost 400 injuries involving food slicers and mixers, blenders, and whippers.

To address the alarming number of severe injuries, OSHA issued a hazard alert to raise awareness and help ensure employers take appropriate precautions. Workers in these establishments face various hazards during all stages of food processing, including:

• Normal operations;
• Machinery inspection;
• Servicing and maintenance;
• Machinery adjustments;
• Clearing jams;
• Cleaning, sanitizing, and environmental testing; and
• Food safety inspection tasks.

The alert includes information on how to recognize hazards, what corrective measures to take, such as machine guarding, and workers’ rights.

The full alert can be found at osha.gov.