The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is now investigating a Wisconsin, U.S., co-manufacturing facility following two industrial explosions in five weeks that have left multiple workers with life-threatening injuries.
According to the Janesville Police Department, OSHA is investigating NaturPak in Janesville, Wisconsin, U.S., after two recent industrial incidents.
On March 18, an equipment-related explosion occurred at the company's facility in Janesville. Two employees were flown to hospitals with life-threatening injuries, and a third was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The police department did not have an update on the condition of any of the employees.
The March incident follows an earlier explosion at the same location. According to the Janesville Fire Department, it responded to an afternoon explosion February 11 that occurred "as a result of a steam over-pressurization." One person was transported to a local hospital, while a second person was transported by MedFlight to the UW Hospital Burn Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
The Janesville Police Department said managers at NaturPak provided "minimal cooperation" during the investigations. During the February 11 incident, the police report indicated that a manager told employees to stop talking with law enforcement during the investigation.
The police indicated OSHA will lead the investigation to determine the root cause of both incidents, evaluate compliance with workplace safety regulations, and implement measures aimed at preventing future occurrences. It is unknown whether the two incidents are related.
The Janesville Gazette reported that Naturpak paused its operations for one-day on March 23 after the March 18 incident. Normal operations resumed on March 24.
NaturPak is a co-manufacturer of shelf-stable food for both human and pet nutrition. Pet products include shelf-stable, human-grade wet pet food. The company specializes in Tetra Recart cartons and offers end-to-end services including R&D, ingredient sourcing, and filling for brands seeking BPA-free, eco-friendly alternatives to cans and jars.
