$145,000 OSHA Fine: Crest Hill Death Was Preventable

CREST HILL, IL — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a news release Monday announcing $145,027 in fines for Rich Products. A 42-year-old employee at the Crest Hill frozen-pizza manufacturer suffered a fatal injury while cleaning a machine July 20, 2021.

“This preventable tragedy is another example of why employers must ensure lockout/tagout procedures are in place before allowing workers to clean or operate machinery,” said OSHA Chicago South Area Director James Martineck. “Employers who fail to follow safety standards and train workers in operating procedures will be held accountable.”

Rich Products employs about 375 people at its Crest Hill facility and more than 7,400 nationwide, OSHA said.

OSHA announced that an inspection determined that Rich Products Corp.’s failure to implement energy control procedures – commonly known as lockout/tagout – exposed its third-shift sanitation workers to serious hazards.

OSHA said it issued one willful violation to the Buffalo, New York-based food manufacturer and proposed $145,027 in penalties. The regulatory agency said it placed Rich Products in OSHA’s Severe Violator Program for a willful violation that led to an employee fatality. The company has an extensive history of OSHA violations nationwide, OSHA announced.

Rich Products Corp. manufactures frozen pizza, desserts and other grocery items for food service, retail, in-store bakeries and delis. The company operates about 100 locations globally and reports annual sales exceeding $4 billion.

Moving forward, Rich Products now has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, officials said.

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Joliet Workers' Rights Group Condemns Crest Hill Workplace Death