OSHA cites Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. with repeat and serious violations for exposing workers to hazardous chemicals at Lufkin, Texas, facility

LUFKIN, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. in Lufkin with three repeat and four serious violations following a June inspection as part of the agency’s Process Safety Management Covered Chemical Facilities national emphasis program. Proposed penalties total $99,000.

“Process safety management prevents the unexpected release of toxic, reactive or flammable liquids and gases in processes involving highly hazardous chemicals,” said David Doucet, director of OSHA’s Houston North office. “Exposure to highly hazardous chemicals can be fatal. OSHA will not tolerate a company’s failure to provide a safe and healthful working environment.”

The repeat citations issued for the process safety management standard violations include failing to inspect and test process equipment consistent with applicable manufacturers’ recommendations and good engineering practices, ensure that process equipment complies with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, and properly label containers holding hazard chemicals. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. Similar violations were cited at the company’s work site in Live Oak, Fla., in April 2008 and at the work site in Russellville, Ala., in September 2010.

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23394