Boss Watch: 7/4 – 7/11

Jacob Morrison

Illegal activities of Southern Bosses for the weeks between Friday, July 4, and Friday, July 11

Florida Endangerers

The U.S. Department of Labor has cited an Orlando target-missile manufacturer for exposing workers to fire, burn, and inhalation hazards, after a December 2024 fire at its facility, hospitalizing two employees and injuring others. 

Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that two employees of Aerojet Rocketdyne Coleman Aerospace Inc. were severely burned, and another sustained injuries from burns and smoke inhalation while they worked on a missile component. OSHA also determined that the employer exposed other workers to burn and inhalation hazards from incorrectly stored and handled explosives and from failing to classify the physical hazards of a highly reactive chemical.

Aerojet Rocketdyne was cited with one willful and six serious violations, with proposed penalties totaling $262,451.

The employer has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Georgia Endangerers

U.S. Department of Labor safety inspectors determined that Brazilian Stone Design LLC, a Powder Springs stone countertop manufacturer, exposed workers to respirable crystalline silica.

The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the employer, which fabricates and sells kitchen and bathroom countertops, with seven serious citations. The employer will pay $33,000 in penalties.

The employer was cited for allegedly exposing workers to high airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica and failing to require the use of respirators; perform fit testing and training for workers wearing respirators; conduct air monitoring; and administer an effective hearing conservation program.
To help protect workers, OSHA has issued two respirable crystalline silica standards, one for construction and the other for general industry and maritime. Learn more about crystalline silica

More Georgia Endangerers

U.S. Department of Labor safety inspectors cited Keystone Foods, a distributor for Tyson Foods, for allegedly failing to protect employees against fire and explosion hazards at its Camilla, Georgia, poultry plant.   

The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined that on Dec. 26, 2024, two workers at the plant, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tyson Foods Inc., were seriously burned when a hose filled with oil ruptured, igniting the oil mist and causing a fire and explosion in the boiler room. Inspectors concluded Keystone Foods did not ensure workers followed proper internal procedures nor the manufacturer’s guidelines when conducting maintenance on its boiler pump. 

OSHA issued Keystone Foods a citation for a serious violation under the OSH Act’s general duty clause and proposed penalties of $16,550.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of their citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. 

RWDSU, the union that represents workers at the plant, issued the following statement in response to the news: 

Yesterday, The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) finally announced the outcome of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) six-month long investigation into the shocking Christmas boiler explosion at Tyson’s Camilla, Georgia poultry plant, where workers are represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), issuing a citation and meager fine of $16,550. 

Stuart Appelbaum, President of the RWDSU, which represents over 15,000 poultry workers at facilities across the southern United States and Edgar Fields, Vice President of RWDSU and President of the Southeast Council of the RWDSU, which represents this plant, issued the following joint statement:

“What we’ve learned today is that Tyson Foods was in fact at fault for our member’s near life ending injuries, but a worker’s life can never be monetarily valued, and it certainly cannot be valued at a few thousand dollars. OSHA’s decision to issue only modest fines in the wake of the devastating boiler explosion at Tyson’s Camilla, Georgia poultry plant is the true embodiment of a broken system that lacks the teeth to protect workers.

“For a multibillion-dollar corporation like Tyson, this fine is barely a drop in the bucket. Despite the gravity of the explosion and the clear danger to workers. It sends a dangerous message: that even catastrophic failures in worker safety can be brushed aside without meaningful consequence.

“The only thing made clear today is that OSHA lacks the power, urgency, and resources needed to truly hold large corporations accountable. It took over six-months for this decision to be issued, leaving our members, their families, and the Camilla community waiting far too long for answers and accountability. And even now, they are left with neither.

“RWDSU members at the Camilla facility and across the poultry industry deserve real safety protections, real enforcement, and real respect for their lives and labor. We demand stronger standards to prevent future tragedies, timely investigations and real penalties that match the scale of the harm done.”

The Southeast Council of the RWDSU represents about 1,600 workers at the bargaining table at this Tyson facility in Camilla, Georgia. The RWDSU represents over 15,000 poultry workers at facilities across the southern United States, which includes workers at other Tyson facilities.

Crashes, Explosions

Workers die on the job every day in the United States – 100 workers every week. Frustratingly, most of these deaths are preventable, but they are often not investigated due to underfunding at OSHA, and often the community doesn’t even know it’s happened. Even though OSHA is even more hamstrung than before, there is sometimes a small news story whenever someone dies at work because it’s such a terrible thing to happen in a community. 

On the Confined Space Newsletter – set up by Jordan Barab, a former OSHA official – they compile as many news stories on worker deaths as he can find every week. In addition to this newsletter, they regularly host commentary and analysis pieces about labor and workplace safety. You can find it all at jordanbarab.com/confinedspace

This week, they found 21 stories of deaths on the job, including 7 from the South. 

A few lowlights:

  • Marshall County, AL – A Huntsville Public Works employee was killed and two others were injured in a wreck on U.S. 231 Tuesday. The Marshall County Coroner confirmed the fatality to a WAFF 48 reporter on the scene. Hank Hornbuckle of New Hope was identified by the Coroner as the person killed in the crash. Hornbuckle, 44, served as a Huntsville public works employee and was a candidate for the New Hope City Council, according to Mayor Roger Walling. “I knew it instantly, I would do anything for the guy (Hornbuckle),” New Hope resident Brian Carpenter said. “He’s the type of guy that would do anything for you. And it’s just this whole community is going to be devastated.” Walling also said city councilman Donnie Dowdy was injured in the crash. “Donny is like the life of the party,” Dowdy’s family pastor, Shane Baker, said. “Great guy, do anything for you. It was just kind of a shock. We have two wonderful New Hopians. Pray for them as they process what they’re going through.” Huntsville City Council member Bill Kling said Public Works Director Chris McNeese was also injured in the wreck. Only one vehicle was involved, a white truck that flipped over in a ditch on the southbound side of 231.
  • Winkler County, TX — June 28, 2025, a worker was killed as the result of a tanker explosion accident at around 12:42 p.m. along Perry Lane. Authorities say the incident took place just off the corner of Perry Lane and Highway 302, just southwest of Kermit. According to officials, a 59-year-old Odessa man was using a grinder on top of a commercial tanker at the time. The victim has been identified as 59-year-old Nicolay Santiesteban of Odessa. While doing so, an explosion sparked, ultimately inflicting fatal injuries to the worker. There did not appear to be anyone else injured in the accident. Investigations into the accident are currently ongoing.

You can read more here.

Union Busters

Brought to you by LaborLab: The nation’s leading watchdog standing with working families to stop employer coercion and intimidation. Visit www.laborlab.us for more info.

Here are the new filings from this week:

In addition, the following LM-20s were amended:

  • Reconnect Labor Relations Consultants amended their LM-20 for Ocean State Job Lots to change their compensation rate (now $2,300/day), expand the terms and conditions for their engagement, change the persuader firm EIN, and remove the local union. 
  • East Coast Labor Relations amended their LM-20 for Ocean State Job Lots to change their compensation rate (now $2,300/day), expand their terms and conditions, and remove the local union. 
  • Mark Coco amended his LM-20 for Amazon (Denver, CO) to change the compensation rate (now $2,000/day) and expand the terms and conditions. 
  • Mark Coco amended his LM-20 for Amazon (Las Vegas, NV) to change the compensation rate (now $2,000/day) and expand the terms and conditions.
  • Corsair Ventures amended their LM-20 for Sutter Amador Hospital to add a subcontractor. 
  • Corsair Ventures amended their LM-20 for Sutter Davis Hospital to add a subcontractor and add the EIN for the persuader.
  • LRI Consulting Services amended their LM-20 for Blue Oval SK to add subcontractors. 

As a reminder, due to a lack of enforcement, some labor relations consultants may disregard the law and fail to report their activities to the U.S. Department of Labor. Therefore, it’s crucial for organizers and workers to report suspected “persuader” activity to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS).

It’s crucial for organizers and workers to report suspected “persuader” activity to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS). You can reach them via email at  OLMS-Public@dol.gov, by calling (202) 693-0123, or by contacting your nearest OLMS District Office.

For assistance, please contact LaborLab at contact@laborlab.us.