Two OSHA inspections conducted in December 2023 and January 2024 have uncovered that HK Cooperative Inc., operating as J.H. Routh Packing Co., exposed employees to a multitude of hazards. The investigations began after the agency was notified that two workers had been exposed to ammonia gas during maintenance of a refrigeration system.
After the investigations, which were conducted under the Regional Emphasis Program for food manufacturing, the Sandusky pork processing facility was cited for 40 serious violations and two other-than-serious violations and one repeat violation. These violations included exposing employees to amputation hazards, insufficient fall protection, a lack of lockout/tagout procedures for machines, unsafe electrical equipment and installations and more. Because of these citations, the company faces $528,441 in proposed penalties.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, OSHA Area Director Todd Jensen said, “Every day, people employed in food manufacturing operations face serious safety and health hazards. Unsafe exposure to ammonia in refrigeration can irritate the respiratory tract, eyes, and nasal passages. At high levels, ammonia exposure may even be fatal. J.H. Routh Packing Co. and other Ohio food industry employers must review their procedures to continually protect workers from preventable injuries and allow them to end their work shifts safely.”
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