These are the headlines that I hate to see about Arkansas and one of our major employers.

Tyson Foods was ordered to pay $500,000 in fines in federal court.  In addition they are faced with one year probation.  This was in relation to a safety violation that led to the death of a worker (Jason Kelley) in a Texarkana plant (River Valley Animal Foods Plant).  This is the maximum fine allowed for willful violation of worker safety regulations.

OSHA argued that Tyson had willfully disregarded safety measure to prevent poisonous fumes at the plant.  Mr. Kelley died while five others were injured when they were overcome by hydrogen sulfide gas from decomposing chicken feathers.

Tyson plead guilty in January and stated it was an accident and safety measures have been put in place to prevent future incidence.

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