© Reuters.
By Ismail Shakil and Kathryn Jackson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Labor on Friday fined a Brands (Nasdaq) stewardess $298,000, alleging safety and training failures at the bakery company led to a Chicago worker losing the tip of a finger in December.
The department said its investigation determined the flight attendant could have prevented a 29-year-old worker from being injured while reassembling a pump at the company’s Chicago facility.
The management said in a statement that the flight attendant could have prevented the injury by ensuring that the equipment was shut down and locked to prevent it from starting unexpectedly during maintenance.
The investigation began after the company, which makes popular snacks like Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Donettes, reported the infection to the Department of Labor.
A stewardess spokesperson said Friday that the company is reviewing the Labor Department allegations, but declined to comment further on “pending investigations.”
“The safety and well-being of our employees is our top priority, and we take all safety concerns very seriously,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
The Department of Labor alleged that the stewardess “failed to ensure that the shafts, sprockets, and moving parts on the equipment … required guards in place to protect workers from contact with pressure points and moving parts.”
The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the company as one willful violation, one repeat violation, and five serious violations. The company has 15 business days to comply with, request an informal conference, or challenge the DOL’s findings.
“Employers can spare their employees these types of painful injuries by complying with OSHA and industry-recognized safety standards,” said OSHA official Sukhvir Kaur.
OSHA has cited Hostess’ failure to protect employee safety and health in 12 inspections since 2018, and the agency has identified some previously identified risks at the Chicago facility as well.
