The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited a beef processing plant in Nebraska for several process safety management violations after one of their employees suffered serious burns caused by exposure to anhydrous ammonia, a gas used as an industrial refrigerant.

Noah’s Ark Processors LLC received 16 different serious safety violations and are facing penalties of $182,926 for their process safety management violations.

They received serious citations for failing to protect employees from falling through inadequately protected skylights, failing to provide process safety information on the chemical hazards associated with the anhydrous ammonia refrigeration system, failing to ensure that their equipment complied with accepted engineering practices, failing to protect employees from chemical hazards associated with anhydrous ammonia refrigeration systems and for failing to implement safe work practices for employees performing maintenance activities on covered processes. They also received citations for electrical safety and lockout/tagout violations.

“When employers fail to properly document procedures and control highly hazardous chemicals, there is the potential for unintentional releases that can result in serious and fatal injuries,” said Omaha Area Director Jeff Funke. “By implementing and sustaining workplace safety and health programs, employers can monitor their processes to ensure safeguards are in place to protect workers.”

See the full list of citations here and read the press release from OSHA here.