The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced on June 3 that it has cited Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc., Belle Glade, Fla., for exposing employees to workplace safety hazards after a worker required medical treatment due to an anhydrous ammonia leak in the farm’s packaging house. The company faces $95,472 in penalties.
OSHA cited the farm for failing to develop procedures for notifying employees of emergencies and evacuation; failing to have a written emergency response plan; failing to provide safety and health training to employees operating ammonia refrigeration systems; and failing to ensure that employees required to respond to ammonia releases were provided a full-face respirator fit test.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent OSHA Review Commission.