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ConAgra Foods Inc. was fined $135,000 on Tuesday by the North Carolina Labor Department for violations at the Omaha-based company’s Slim Jim plant in Garner, N.C., where an explosion in June claimed the lives of four workers.
The North Carolina Labor Department said a six-month investigation found that ConAgra committed 26 serious violations of the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Act, including failing to follow safety procedures, faulty alarm systems and not maintaining a workplace free of serious health hazards.
ConAgra spokeswoman Stephanie Childs said the company couldn’t comment specifically on the charges because it is reviewing the labor department’s findings.
“Since the accident, we have worked closely and fully cooperated with the agency throughout its investigation,” she said. “As appropriate, we will follow up with the agency on any possible next steps.”
The blast initially claimed the lives of three ConAgra employees who were struck by debris or crushed when part of the building collapsed. A fourth person employed by Energy Systems Analysts, a subcontractor working at the plant, died in late November from injuries associated with the explosion.
More than 200 people were working in the plant when the explosion in the packaging area caused part of the roof to collapse.
According to investigators, the blast was caused by a natural gas line that was improperly purged into the factory, which had multiple “ignition sources.”
Hickory, N.C.-based Energy Systems Analysts also was fined $58,000 by the department of labor on 28 offenses.
An employee for the firm improperly purged a natural gas line from the plant’s natural gas-fired water heater into a room that had multiple open flames burning, causing the explosion, according to a citation. Energy Systems did not properly train the employee on how to expel natural gas into an enclosed area, another citation said.
Energy Systems Analysts did not return phone calls Tuesday.
Contact the writer:
444-1414, ross.boettcher@owh.com
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