The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited staffing buyer Stampede Meat Inc., an Illinois meat processing plant, for failing to train workers — including temporary workers — about hazardous chemicals, exposing workers to a variety of workplace hazards. OSHA fined Stampede $45,500 in proposed penalties.

OSHA also cited staffing firms Reliable Staffing Services, which operates as Flexible Staffing Services of Lake in the Hill, and Accurate Personnel of Chicago, for failing to train workers in these hazards. The staffing companies supply about 1,200 employees to the facility, according to OSHA.

OSHA cited Reliable Staffing Services for exposing jobsite employees to hazards including ammonia, nitrogen and chlorine dioxide. OSHA claims the firm failed to provide employees with effective information and train on hazardous chemicals in the facility.

OSHA cited Accurate Personnel for exposing worksite employees to hazards including fire and ammonia when they had not been provided with adequate training on the host employer’s emergency action plan.

The staffing companies each face $14,000 in penalties.

“Stampede Meat has a responsibility to train its workforce about the chemical hazards they work with every day,” said Kathy Webb, OSHA’s area director in Calumet City, Ill. “The company needs to evaluate its safety and health programs and make immediate improvements to protect workers on the job.”

 Each company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to respond.