For the third time since 2012, federal investigators have cited Sharpe Holdings in the death of an employee. The most recent casualty was a 51-year-old equipment operator, who suffered serious head injuries aftere he was ejected from the rear of a van on Sept. 26, 2015. He died the following day.

An investigation by OSHA found the company did not provide safety belts, secure passenger seats or latch the rear doors of the van used on its La Belle cattle and dairy farm. OSHA issued one repeat and 17 serious safety violations to the company on Feb. 23 and placed it in the agency's Severe Violator Enforcement Program.