Agro Farma cited by OSHA over process safety failures

The US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has handed out proposed fines totalling $177,000 (£113,000) to Agro Farma as a result of failings with process safety management at the company.

Christopher Adams, OSHA's area director in Syracuse, explained investigations of the manufacturer of Chobani Greek Yogurt uncovered a range of problems, including mechanical, chemical, electrical and health hazards.

He suggested that if they were left uncovered, they would "expose the plant's employees to being caught in moving machine parts or unexpectedly energised machinery, electrocution, falls, being overcome in toxic or oxygen-deficient atmospheres and hearing loss", among other issues.

Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional director in New York, suggested there was also a need for an effective illness and injury prevention programme to be put in place at the company.

Health and safety failures at Piping Technology and Products Inc previously led to OSHA handing out fines totalling more than $1 million to the firm.