A New Jersey commercial bakery will pay $180,000 in penalties and implement enhanced safety measures to settle federal workplace safety violations stemming from an employee’s finger amputation, the U.S. Department of Labor announced.
The settlement with Valenti’s Bakery LLC in Paterson resolves litigation after a follow-up inspection in May 2024 found the company had failed to correct hazards identified in an earlier investigation.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration first investigated the bakery in June 2023 following an incident where an employee suffered partial finger amputations. When OSHA returned in May 2024 to verify the company had addressed previously cited hazards, inspectors found the dangerous conditions remained unchanged.
Multiple violations found
The settlement affirms citations that included two willful violations, one repeat violation, six serious violations, and one failure-to-abate citation issued after the follow-up inspection.
Under the agreement, Valenti’s Bakery must establish an employee-management safety committee and hire a third-party safety consultant to conduct regular audits. The company also agreed to post safety signage and provide training in both English and Spanish.
Enhanced safety measures required
Additional requirements include implementing daily safety checklists, installing security cameras to monitor exit routes, adding new engineering controls, and conducting spot checks to ensure proper lockout and tagout procedures are followed.
The case highlights ongoing challenges employers face in maintaining workplace safety standards, particularly in manufacturing environments where workers operate heavy machinery. Machine-related injuries remain a significant concern for workplace safety officials, with improper guarding and energy control procedures contributing to serious accidents.
OSHA provides resources on machine guarding and hazardous energy control to help employers limit worker exposure to machinery hazards and prevent similar incidents.
