Unguarded Machines Injure 3 at Schwan’s Facility in KS

Salina, KS – OSHA has announced $172,000 in fines against Schwan’s Global Supply Chain, citing it for three repeated safety violations and four serious violations for accidents due to unguarded machinery at the company’s frozen pizza plant in Salina, KS.

In three separate accidents in 2015, one female Schwan’s worker lost a hand; another lost a finger; and a third suffered fractures and burns to one hand. All three workplace injuries occured within three months of each other.

The OSHA investigation concluded that Schwan’s had exposed its Salina workers to amputation and other serious hazards through unguarded equipment on the production line. In their statement, OSHA said “three women’s lives were dramatically altered because their employer failed to protect them from hazardous operating machinery parts.”

In August 2015, a 55-year-old worker was picking up pizza crumbs when her glove was caught in an unguarded conveyor chain and sprocket-drive assembly. Her right hand had to be amputated after the accident.

In September, a 39-year-old worker’s left hand was lacerated and fractured after she reached into a conveyor area to clear a pizza pan jam. Her her palm burned as well.

In October, a 55-year-old employee inadvertently put her hand into an unguarded chain and sprocket, amputating the middle finger of her left hand.