Wisconsin Food Plant Fined $364K After Kettle Blasts Kill Three Workers
Two industrial kettle failures at a Wisconsin food manufacturing plant have resulted in $364,100 in OSHA penalties, Plant Services reports. The agency cited IPMF, LLC, operating as NaturPak, following incidents on Feb. 12 and March 18, 2026, in which kettle lids opened under pressure and released steam, hot liquid, and organic material onto nearby workers. Three employees died and two were seriously injured across the two events. OSHA found a clogged vent line caused the pressure buildup in the first incident. The agency issued serious citations for kettle design and use hazards, thermal exposure without accessible emergency water, and inadequate PPE assessment for thermal risk. It also issued repeat citations, a more severe category reserved for violations similar to past cited hazards, for exposing workers to fall hazards and for failing to develop, document, and train employees on lockout/tagout procedures for the kettles. Penalties totaled $115,850 from the February inspection and $248,250 from the March inspection. IPMF has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference, or contest the citations before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Repeat citations carry steeper penalties than initial findings, as this case shows with $248,250 assessed on the second inspection alone. Facility maintenance subs working on pressure vessels, kettles, or similar equipment should confirm lockout/tagout procedures are documented and that workers have actually been trained, not just handed a binder.
- OSHA flagged missing emergency water access for thermal hazard response. Any sub servicing steam or hot-liquid equipment should verify emergency eyewash/water stations are functional and within reach of the work area before starting a job.
- Fall hazards into kettles and inadequate PPE assessment for thermal risk were both cited. Subs bidding on food processing or industrial kettle maintenance should ask the facility for its current hazard assessment records before signing on, since gaps there can trigger liability if an incident occurs during your work window.
