Animal food plant cited over explosion, fire hazards

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Thursday that it cited a Wisconsin animal food plant for exposing workers to explosion, fire and respiratory hazards.

OSHA cited Watertown-based Strauss Feeds LLC for 19 “serious” and five “other-than-serious” violations and proposed $161,332 in penalties after inspectors in February discovered numerous safety and health hazards after being tipped off about unsafe working conditions.

The investigation found that “the company’s poor housekeeping, its failure to evaluate spaces for dust hazards, and an absence of engineering controls to reduce dust created serious combustible and airborne dust hazards,” OSHA said in a statement.

Strauss Feeds also failed to develop a written respiratory protection program, further endangering employees, OSHA said.

The agency said that unsafe levels of airborne dust can suddenly ignite and cause explosions and fires that could put workers in danger.

Strauss Feeds, which makes milk replacer for calves and other young animals, has 15 business days to contest the citation and proposed penalties.