The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued seven citations at an Oklahoma pork processing plant, recommending $51,000 in fines.
During an October 2014 inspection of the plant in Guymon, Oklahoma, OSHA officials found Seaboard Foods failed to provide proper written procedures, safety practices, worker training and equipment testing for its pair of anhydrous ammonia refrigeration systems.
The agency said anhydrous ammonia is highly corrosive and can particularly affect workers' skin, eyes and lungs if not properly controlled.
Other citations were levied for improper machine, electrical and fall guards. The citations were classified as "serious," meaning the employer knew or should have known about a hazard with a "substantial probability" of causing death or serious injury.
"Employers who deal with highly hazardous chemicals like these have a responsibility to implement effective process safety management programs, because the release of toxic, reactive or flammable liquids and gases can be catastrophic," said OSHA's David Bates, the area director in Oklahoma City.
The company has 15 business days after receiving the citations to either comply, request a conference with the area director or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.