ConAgra Foods has agreed to pay $1,000 to settle fines from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for safety violations at one of its potato processing facilities in Idaho, according to sources.
OSHA officials cited ConAgra for failure to safely operate low-pressure receivers at the facility. The receivers are part of ammonia refrigeration systems and are found in many food processing facilities.
As part of the settlement agreement, ConAgra has agreed to implement new procedures to reduce the risks of the anhydrous ammonia being released in the future.
“While ConAgra Foods disagreed with the underlying citation and OSHA’s interpretation of the standard in question, we’re pleased to have resolved this matter with OSHA,” said a ConAgra spokeswoman. “ConAgra Foods and our Lamb Weston business are committed to providing a safe and secure work environment that protects and promotes employee safety.”
Companies that work with hazardous chemicals must diligently ensure that all safety regulations are followed and employees are provided with adequate personal protective equipment and trained properly to handle the materials.
Please contact our firm today for a free consultation if you or a loved one has suffered a workplace injury. You may be entitled to workers comp benefits.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus Workers Comp Attorneys
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