$52,000 fine for ammonia release affecting 152

Theodore, Ala.-The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing Millard Refrigerated Services Inc. of Theodore pay penalties totaling $52,500 for 16 alleged safety and health violations resulting from an anhydrous ammonia release last August that sent 152 workers from several companies to the hospital for ammonia vapor exposure (GM Aug. 30, 2010). Thirty-one were admitted and four were placed in intensive care. According to OSHA, Millard Refrigerated Services is being cited with seven serious safety violations and one serious health violation, with $45,500 in proposed penalties. Four of the safety violations related to the incident include failure to consider hazard analysis from previous incidents; ensure an emergency shutdown would be executed in a timely and safe manner; train workers in process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals; and investigate the contributing factors to an incident that could have resulted in a catastrophic event. The company became aware of the leak in a 12-inch pipe on the roof when a crane operator was overcome by vapors and fell down while evacuating his crane cab on board a ship that was being loaded by Millard.