The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined Vienna Beef Ltd. $53,000 for ten serious safety violations.

OSHA cited Vienna Beef after a May inspection at the Chicago meat processing facility.

“The absence of machine guarding, deficient energy control procedures and lack of employer safety training creates an atmosphere in which workers are vulnerable to injury or even death,” said Diane Turek, OSHA’s area director for the Chicago North Area Office in Des Plaines. “Employers, such as Vienna Beef, have a responsibility to evaluate workplaces for existing hazards to protect workers from injuries.”

The ten serious safety violations include lack of energy control procedures; failing to train and evaluate powered industrial vehicle operators — lack of eye and face protection, not providing walking working surfaces that were in good repair, failing to conduct a workplace hazard assessment to identify possible safety issues, and improper use of flexible electrical cords.

The company was also cited for violations that expose workers to amputation injuries, including failing to lockout and tagout equipment during maintenance to prevent unintentional operation and lack of machine guarding on various machines, such as grinders, augers and mixers.

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The company, which was established in 1893, produces hot dogs, sausages, soups and deli meats.