The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced on Jan. 29 that it has issued 12 citations and a proposed penalty of $145,097 against AJLS Enterprises Inc., operating as Schoep’s Ice Cream. Federal investigators found that the Madison, Wisc., ice cream plant lacked sufficient process safety management procedures to control the release of anhydrous ammonia.
In addition, OSHA noted multiple safety and health violations including a lack of lockout/tagout procedures and machine guarding; failing to train workers in lockout/tagout procedures; not having a written hazard communication plan and failing to update the emergency action plan; and having ladder openings unprotected from fall hazards.
AJLS has 15 business days from receipt of the 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.