Arm amputation in pasta plant leads to $222,000 OSHA penalty

The amputation of a worker’s arm has led federal workplace safety officials to propose a $222,648 penalty against commercial pasta manufacturer Rana Meal Solutions L.L.C. of Bartlett, Ill.

The worker’s arm was caught in an industrial mixer and firefighters worked for 45 minutes to cut the machine apart to free the man, local media reported at the time.

In an inspection summary released Wednesday, OSHA cited Rana for alleged willful, repeat, and serious violations of federal regulations for deactivating machinery before maintenance work is performed, a practice called lockout/tagout.