U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed a penalty of $110,630 for Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. due to a Jan. 19, 2022, ammonia leak at a Canton, Ga., poultry processing plant that caused the hospitalization of two workers and led to the evacuation of about 50 workers. OSHA found that the incident might have been prevented had the company followed required safety standards.
OSHA issued nine citations for inadequately implementing and maintaining the process safety management program for controlling anhydrous ammonia hazards in industrial refrigeration systems. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.