Zwanenberg Food Group USA, a supplier of processed foods, agreed to pay $3.6 million — which includes $1.7 million in federal penalties — and invest $1.9 million in safety improvements at its Cincinnati plant, the US Occupational Safety and Health and Administration announced May 15. The agreement comes after injuries were suffered by two temporary workers.

In one case, a 29-year-old temporary worker suffered injuries that resulted in a leg amputation. The incident was reported in October 2022. The other case occurred June 23, 2023, when a 29-year-old temporary worker’s finger was amputated.

Included in the agreement is a pledge by Zwanenberg to transition most of its workforce to permanent employees within six months.

The agreement announced resolves citations issued to the company. OSHA inspectors had found the company allowed machinery to operate without required safety guards and equipment was not de-energized during cleaning.

“By agreeing to make extensive safety improvements and work with OSHA and industry experts to address workplace hazards, Zwanenberg Food Group will be better equipped to ensure the safety and protect the lives of current employees and future workers at its Cincinnati production facility,” OSHA Regional Administrator Bill Donovan said in a press release.

Zwanenberg has been contacted for comment.

As part of the settlement, Zwanenberg will take these steps, according to OSHA:

• Have an independent third-party auditor conduct an analysis of all equipment.
• Develop and re-write lockout/tagout procedures for all equipment.
• Enhance machine guarding.
• Train employees on the new machine safety procedures, including lockout/tagout.
• Ensure each employee uses and applies their own HASP lock during third-shift sanitation.
• Transition most of its workforce to permanent employees within six months.
• Meet with OSHA at least quarterly to discuss safety and health issues.
• Retain a third-party consultant to audit all personal protective equipment, hazardous communication and lockout/tagout programs.
• Continue the company’s recently adopted “pre-startup safety review.”
• Conduct an independent audit of its safety training programs.
• Implement a “stop work for safety” program, including awards and recognition.
• Continue its “near-miss reporting” program and daily discussions of issues at production meetings.
• Implement a learning management system for all employees and schedule mandatory monthly computer-based safety training.
• Conduct on-board safety training for all new employees.
• Develop a corporatewide safety and health management system that includes input from management and workers and the creation of a safety committee.

Based in Cincinnati, Zwanenberg Food Group USA is a subsidiary of Holland’s Zwanenberg Food Group, according to OSHA. The company has 12 production facilities in the US.