Ice Cream Plant Receives OSHA Fines Following Chemical Exposure Report
Madison, Wisconsin-based Schoep’s Ice Cream faces proposed penalties of $145,097.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Jan 30, 2024
OSHA has cited AJLS Enterprises Inc.—which operates as Schoep’s Ice Cream in Madison, Wisconsin—for multiple safety violations and proposed penalties totaling $145,097.
According to a release dated Jan. 29, the agency’s investigation was spurred by a report that workers were being exposed to anhydrous ammonia, a hazardous chemical used in refrigeration that can cause severe respiratory injuries and burns. OSHA ultimately issued 12 serious citations, including failure to institute processes for controlled release of hazardous chemicals.
Other violations include the absence of lockout/tagout procedures, inadequate machine guarding, failure to train workers in lockout/tagout procedures, the absence of a written hazard communication plan, failure to update the emergency action plan and unprotected ladder openings posing fall hazards.
“Employers must continually evaluate their engineering processes and train workers on how to safely operate equipment,” OSHA Area Director Chad Greenwood in Madison said in a statement. “Every employer should embrace safety and health as a core value in their establishment.”
OSHA launched a regional emphasis program for the food manufacturing industry in 2022. AJLS Enterprises now has 15 days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the agency’s findings.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.