Nebraska ag cooperative plans to fight $500,000 proposed OSHA, workplace safety fines [View all]

Molly Ashford Oct 3, 2024 Updated 6 mins ago

A Nebraska agricultural cooperative plans to contest more than $500,000 in proposed penalties after an OSHA investigation found "life-threatening hazards" and multiple safety violations at a Hemingford grain elevator.

According to a press release from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the investigation at the grain elevator, owned by Legacy Cooperative, began after a complaint about unsafe working conditions in March. The investigation found 24 safety violations, including two classified as "willful," meaning the company acted with disregard or indifference to employee safety.

Legacy Cooperative is the result of a merger between two Nebraska based grain co-ops, the Farmer’s Cooperative and the Panhandle Cooperative, earlier this year. The company operates agricultural cooperatives in the Nebraska Panhandle and South Dakota.

Charlie Wright, the president and CEO of Legacy Cooperative, said the company plans to contest all of the 24 violations and officials will meet with OSHA on Oct. 15. Wright also said all of the issues noted in the OSHA investigation have since been fixed.

FULL story here: http://archive.today/qf42z

Original link: https://omaha.com/news/state-regional/business/nebraska-ag-cooperative-plan-to-fight-500-000-proposed-osha-workplace-safety-fines/article_9ce32396-81bc-11ef-ba95-cf45f5a37764.html