A Cincinnati-based food supplier has agreed to pay $1.7 million in federal penalties related to several workplace hazards discovered during investigations by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the agency said Thursday.
Zwanenberg Food Group USA Inc. also agreed to invest $1.9 million in safety improvements at its Cincinnati facility.
The settlement resolves citations issued in 2022 and 2023 after OSHA inspectors found the company exposed employees to machine guarding hazards and failed to de-energize equipment.
Zwanenberg agreed to make numerous safety improvements, including hiring an independent, third-party agency to audit all equipment; developing lockout/tagout procedures for equipment; meeting with OSHA quarterly to discuss workplace safety and health; retaining a third-party consultant to inspect protective equipment; and conducting an independent audit of its safety training programs.
Zwanenberg Food Group USA, a subsidiary of Netherlands-based Zwanenberg Food Group BV, has 12 production facilities in the U.S., Netherlands and United Kingdom. The company employs about 175 workers at its Cincinnati plant.