The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc. in Belle Glade, FL for exposing workers to ammonia, a hazard that left one worker ill.

There was an anhydrous ammonia leak in the farm’s packaging house which led to a worker requiring medical treatment. The farm was cited for failing to develop procedures for notifying employees of emergencies and evacuation, and a written emergency response plan. They were also cited for failing to provide safety and health training to employees operating ammonia refrigeration systems and to ensure that employees required to respond to ammonia releases were provided a full-face respirator fit test. This inspection occurred under the administration’s National Emphasis Program on Process Safety Management Covered Chemical Facilities.

“This incident reveals the harm that can result when chemical facilities fail to comply with worker safety regulations,” said OSHA Fort Lauderdale Area Director Condell Eastmond. “Employers are required to conduct a process hazard analysis to review what could go wrong, and what safeguards must be used to prevent releases of hazardous chemicals.”

The company faces $95,472 in penalties.

Read the press release from OSHA.