Sandusky pork processing plant fined $528K for 43 safety violations after workers were exposed to ammonia
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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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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