Plaintiffs: Secretary of Labor
Defendants: Gold Kist, Inc., Russellville, Ala.
Co-Counsel:
Southern Migrant Legal Services
Date(s) of Disposition:
none.
Documents
: Notice of Health and Safety Hazards at Gold Kist 02-09-06
: OSHA Citation and Notification of Penalty
: Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Complaint
: Gold Kist Answer to Complaint
: SPLC Petition for Leave to Intervene
Agreement
: Gold Kist Settlement Agreement 01-17-07
An Alabama poultry processing plant faced $143,000 in fines as the result of a federal complaint filed by the Center alleging the company subjected workers to dangerous working conditions.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the Russellville, Ala., plant for 21 serious safety violations, two repeat violations and a record-keeping violation. The plant is owned by Atlanta-based Gold Kist, Inc., the country's third largest chicken processor and marketer, and employs more than 16,000 people.
Despite OSHA’s Aug. 14 order to correct serious and repeat violations at the Gold Kist poultry processing facility in Russellville, Ala., the company has refused to accept responsibility and clean up its act. The OSHA inspection revealed 21 hazardous conditions "likely to cause death or serious bodily injury," two hazardous conditions cited by OSHA in the past and a recordkeeping violation.
On Nov. 3, Gold Kist filed papers with the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission denying all violations of federal health and safety law. The company blamed any unsafe conditions on worker misconduct.
The Commission ordered Gold Kist and OSHA to attend a settlement conference to be held on Dec. 7 and 8.
Gold Kist reached a final settlement with OSHA in January 2007 requiring the company to pay over $80,000 in fines for regularly exposing workers to dangerous
working conditions. In addition, Gold Kist is required to conduct regular
safety inspections of the Russellville facility, to adopt safety programs used at other Gold Kist plants and to provide training for workers and managers. To ensure compliance, Gold Kist must report quarterly and submit to an annual review by OSHA.
Read related stories:
SPLC complaint results in heavy fines for poultry producer
Report: Poultry workers' rights
