The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited a Texas Meat-Packing Company for exposing workers to releases of hazardous chemicals.

7 S Packing LLC, operating as Texas Packing Company in San Angelo, Texas, failed to implement a Process Safety Management (PSM) program for operating an ammonia refrigeration unit containing over 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia. This program is required. The employer also failed to provide fall protection, guard machines and equipment, control hazardous energy and implement a respiratory protection program.

The PSM Covered Chemical Facilities National Emphasis Program seeks to reduce or eliminate workplace hazards at chemical facilities to protect workers from catastrophic releases of highly hazardous chemicals. PSM standards emphasize the management of hazards from chemicals and establishes a comprehensive management program that integrates technologies, procedures, and management practices to prevent an unexpected release.

Read more about the program here and view the entire list of citations.

They are facing $615,640 in penalties.

Read the press release from OSHA.