Packers Sanitation Services allegedly used child labor at three meatpacking plants in two states, according to the Department of Labor. The DOL asked a federal court to issue a nationwide temporary restraining order and injunctive relief against the company for its alleged crimes at plants in Grand Island, Nebraska, Worthington, Minnesota, and Marshall, Minnesota. More than 30 youth workers, all under the age of 18, were tasked with cleaning dangerous motorized equipment overnight, according to the department. Several, including a 13-year-old worker, suffered “severe” chemical burns, according to a federal lawsuit against the company. Many of the juvenile workers were responsible for cleaning heavy-duty tools on a factory kill floor, including beef horns, saws and a 190-pound saw used to split cow carcasses in half lengthwise,” the lawsuit says. After finishing their early morning shifts, several children went straight to their middle school, where they usually fell asleep in class, the affidavit states. Several of the young employees suffered chemical burns. US Department of Labor Many of the children worked from 11pm to 5am or 7am, the document said. The new workers worked five or six days a week, with several clocking in seven days of work a week. The investigation began in August after a “reliable” source alleged that the company employed minors in hazardous conditions, the DOL said. Upon learning of the investigation, PSSI managers “attempted to obstruct or disrupt the collection of evidence in a number of ways,” the filing states. Supervisors allegedly told investigators they were not allowed to take pictures and tried to prevent investigators from interviewing the workers in addition to deleting documents that contained evidence. The kids had to clean heavy-duty tools like chisels and saws. US Department of Labor PSSI denied the allegations, telling NBC News that it “has an absolute company-wide prohibition against employing anyone under the age of 18 and zero tolerance for any violation of this policy — period.” “While unscrupulous individuals could of course seek to engage in fraud or identity theft, we are confident in our firm’s strict compliance policies and will defend ourselves vigorously against these claims,” a spokesperson said. Federal law prohibits children under 14 from working in any capacity. Children aged 14 and 15 are only allowed to work before 7pm during the school year and no later than 9pm in the summer. Children cannot work more than three hours on school days, eight hours outside school or more than 18 hours a week. It is also illegal for children to operate the dangerous equipment that PSSI allegedly entrusted to children. “Federal laws were put in place decades ago to prevent employers from profiting by putting children at risk,” said Wage and Hour Regional Administrator Michael Lazzeri in Chicago. “Exploiting children, exposing them to workplace hazards – and interfering with a federal investigation – demonstrates Packers Sanitation Services Inc.’s flagrant disregard. for the law and the welfare of young workers”.
