(Crain’s) — Jewel Food Stores Inc. faces a fine of $75,000 by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 13 safety violations at its Franklin Park warehouse and distribution center, including one repeat violation and 10 “serious” failures that could have resulted in serious physical harm or death.
OSHA cited the Itasca-based grocery chain for “lacking several required elements” for handling ammonia refrigeration systems at the warehouse following an inspection, the government agency said in a statement.
Jewel’s repeat citation was for not having or following written operating procedures to provide clear safety instructions for each type of related process. OSHA cited the chain in March 2010 for the violation.
“Developing and following written procedures for the handling of substances like ammonia is critical to employees’ safety,” Diane Turek, OSHA’s director for the Chicago North Area Office in Des Plaines, said in the statement. “Employers are responsible for knowing what hazards exist in their workplaces and following OSHA’s regulations.”
The 10 serious violations included failing to set or follow written equipment maintenance procedures and failing to document inspections and tests on the processing equipment across industry and manufacturers’ standards. The warehouse also didn’t address hazards related to the ammonia refrigeration handling process and operating procedures. Two lesser violations involved not keeping a contract employee injury and illness log or procedures for handling small ammonia leaks in its emergency action plan.
Jewel has 15 days to comply with or contest the citations. The company could negotiate lesser fines if it quickly addresses the issues.
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