Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 005 Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.119(o)(4): The employer did not promptly determine and document an appropriate response to each of the findings of the compliance audit and did not document that deficiencies had been corrected. Hanover Foods Corporation, Clayton, Delaware (with respect to ammonia refrigeration processes): On or about 10-1-2022, the employer did not promptly document the corrections for deficiencies (items listed below) identified in their 2021 compliance audit, exposing employees to fire and toxic hazards posed by anhydrous ammonia in the event of an uncontrolled release (a) Item 2: The Process Safety Information does not contain adequate required documentation of an evaluation of consequence of deviation from safe upper and lower operating parameters. This is an ongoing hazardous condition that can result in the release of ammonia causing serious injury to employees. (b) Item 4: Liquid ammonia lines in freezer have no protection against damage from forklift traffic / freight movement. Additionally, a liquid ammonia pump package is in a remote isolated room with no ventilation nor detection. These are ongoing hazardous conditions that can result in the release of ammonia causing serious injury to employees. (c). Item 5: The facility has no system to address and document PHA team findings and recommendations. (d) Item 7: There is no system to ensure that the recommendations of the PHA team are resolved in a timely manner, documented, and communicated to affected employees in accordance with an established schedule. (e) Item 8: The facility SOP do not address all applicable operating limits, discussion of consequences of deviation, and safety system utilized. This is an ongoing hazardous conditions that can result in the release of ammonia causing serious injury to employees. (f) Item 10: The facility has no written maintenance procedures or schedule for inspections and tests on process equipment based on manufacturers' recommendations and/or recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices (RAGAGEP). Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit abatement certification and documentation, required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.