Logistics firm faces £42,000 fines

USA: One of America’s largest logistics companies could face fines of $42,000 for violating safety procedures over its ammonia refrigeration systems.

An inspection of the Ozburn-Hessey Logistics facility in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, in January, by the US Department of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, found violations of the OSHA’s process safety management procedures related to ammonia used in the company’s refrigeration warehouse facility.

The OSHA issued nine “serious” and two “other-than-serious” violations to the company and its plant where more than 10,000 pounds of ammonia are in use.

The alleged violations included blistered and rusted piping on ammonia lines and a failure to correct ice build-up. The company was also found to have failed to develop operational procedures to maintain the ongoing integrity of its refrigeration equipment and had not developed procedures for the safe completion of refrigeration related tasks while working at heights.

In addition, employees had no clear instructions on how to mitigate ammonia releases during service and maintenance and there was a failure to provide the personal protective and detection equipment necessary in the event of an ammonia release.

Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Ozburn-Hessey Logistics has 120 locations worldwide employing more than 10,000 workers.