Des Moines, Iowa-Iowa has levied fines and penalties totaling more than $1.2 million against two Waterloo area employers in connection with an anhydrous ammonia release Aug. 31 that caused the death of one employee and injuries to several others at a meat packing plant, according to the state’s labor services division. The division brought charges against Beef Products Inc. and Modern Engineering and Piping, a contractor working at the time on the refrigeration system at the packing plant. The accident investigation was expanded after the incident to cover the entire facility, and resulted in citations being issued against Beef Products for failure to comply with process safety management, emergency response failure, respiratory protection, lockout, employee alarm system standards, deficiencies in ammonia pipe labeling, exit routes, emergency action plan, deficiencies with a stair handrail, exit access width, and confined space labeling. The contractor was cited for seven violations for deficiencies in lockout, employee safety training, process safety management, respiratory protection, and hazard communication violations. The division reported that many of the proposed violations are directly related to the Aug. 31 incident, in which a high-pressure liquid ammonia stop valve was not locked out. The stop valve was opened to transfer ammonia refrigerant, and high pressure liquid ammonia was released into the work area. The victim, a 44-year-old woman, died a few days after the incident. Beef Products, which is facing a $1,116,000 fine, and Modern Engineering, with a $88,500 fine, have 15 days from the date citations to respond.
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