The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to ensure safe and healthy workplaces. The fine shows the federal government is prepared punish processors financially when workers are exposed to unnecessary risks of illness and injury.

US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which sets and enforces standards, last week proposed the fines for a series of violations following an investigation that found Tyson's employees to be working in dangerous conditions.

"We're disappointed by OSHA's claims, since we believe we have solid safety and health programs at Noel," Tyson foods said yesterday in a statement sent to Foodproductiondaily-usa.com. "In addition to comprehensive written safety procedures and policies, we have plant safety and ergonomic committees that include the involvement of production workers."

The USHA began an investigation on January 9 as part of its programme to target hazardous workplaces with a history of high worker employee injury rates and illness.

Charles Adkins, regional administrator for OSHA in Kansas City, said that employers must provide a safe environment for workers and ensure they are protected from hazardous conditions.

"This employer was well aware of federal standards to protect employees from hazards found during inspection, yet did not comply with them," he said.