Responding to a report of workers being exposed to anhydrous ammonia, federal investigators found a Madison ice cream plant lacked sufficient process safety management procedures to control the release of hazardous chemicals. Investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined the Ice Cream facility failed to document that equipment was being operated consistent with best engineering processes, update processes following audits and respond to changes in the process.
OSHA issued 12 serious citations and proposed $145,097 in penalties. In addition to insufficient process safety procedures, OSHA noted multiple safety and health violations including:
- Lack of lockout/tagout procedures.
- Lack of machine guarding.
- Failing to train workers in lockout/tagout procedures.
- Not having a written hazard communication plan.
- Failing to update the emergency action plan.
- Ladder openings not protected from fall hazards.
Here is the breakdown of the citations: