Gristedes Fined for Safety Violations
NEW YORK -- The Gristedes supermarket chain has been fined $186,500 for employee safety violations, seven months after a worker lost an arm in a piece of equipment.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said it found 73 safety problems -- ranging from missing exit signs to a dangerous walk-in freezer -- in eight of the chain's 49 stores.
OSHA began a probe of the company after a Feb. 19 accident at a Gristede's store in Manhattan in which a worker's arm was cut off by a cardboard baler.
Officials found that the baler had not been equipped with a guard to keep employees from getting caught in it.
Gristedes president John Catsimatdis said OSHA was right about the safety problems, but denied that the accident was the fault of his company. He said Gristedes would act on any recommendations made by OSHA.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said it found 73 safety problems -- ranging from missing exit signs to a dangerous walk-in freezer -- in eight of the chain's 49 stores.
OSHA began a probe of the company after a Feb. 19 accident at a Gristede's store in Manhattan in which a worker's arm was cut off by a cardboard baler.
Officials found that the baler had not been equipped with a guard to keep employees from getting caught in it.
Gristedes president John Catsimatdis said OSHA was right about the safety problems, but denied that the accident was the fault of his company. He said Gristedes would act on any recommendations made by OSHA.
