Hershey is undoubtedly one of Pennsylvania’s most well known businesses. The company’s chocolate candy bars are loved by people of all ages. It is unlikely that many people consuming the company’s confections are thinking about all of the people who are involved in the creation of each sweet treat or the prevention of worker injuries. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, however, is.

Last month, OSHA indicated it was proposing that a contractor used by the business at one of its packaging plants be fined a total of $283,000. The fines are the result of an inspection that spanned half a year. The contractor, Excel, hires students from other countries in the summer to package Hershey’s products.

According to OSHA, the contractor was cited for six willful violations. The definition of a willful violation is a violation that is done on purpose, and either is against the law or does not take into account the health and safety of an employee.

The willful violations recorded in the case of Excel include the failure to do the following:

•· Evaluate a total of 300 logs prior to providing certification

•· Record injuries or illnesses sustained by workers over the course of four years

•· Implement a hearing conservation program that is deemed to be effective

In addition, there were several other violations considered to be minor.

Hershey’s has not been cited by OSHA since the contractor was actually in charge of the facility. Excel has 15 days after receiving the letter from OSHA to do one of three things. It must either contest the citation from OSHA, seek to set up a conference with an area director with OSHA or take the steps laid out in the letter.

Source: Confectionery News, “Hershey packer fails to record worker injuries for four years,” Oliver Nieburg, Feb. 23, 2012