SYRACUSE — The U.S Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited the manufacturer of Chobani Greek Yogurt for alleged violations of workplace safety and health standards at its plant in South Edmeston.
Agro Farma, Inc., the manufacturer of the yogurt, is facing a total of $178,000 in proposed penalties for 34 alleged violations. OSHA’s Syracuse Area Office inspected the manufacturer’s facility after receiving a complaint.
“Our inspections identified a wide range of mechanical, chemical, electrical, and health hazards that, left uncorrected, expose the plant’s employees to being caught in moving machine parts or unexpectedly energized machinery, electrocution, falls, being overcome in toxic or oxygen-deficient atmospheres, and hearing loss,” Christopher Adams, OSHA’s area director in Syracuse, said in a news release.
OSHA said it found unguarded moving machine parts, electrical hazards, and a lack of personal protective equipment for employees working on live electrical equipment. It also said it found a lack of fall protection for employees accessing the tops of milk trucks.
Other violations recorded by OSHA included unlabeled containers of hazardous chemicals, wet floors, unguarded floor holes, and stairway and exit deficiencies. OSHA also said the Agro Farma failed to refit and retrain employees who experienced hearing loss.
Agro Farma has 15 business days to contest OSHA’s findings, meet with the administration’s director, or comply with the administration’s proposed penalties.
“Since our start in 2005, we have grown from five employees to over 1,200 strong. There is nothing more important to us than our people, and we are committed to providing a safe, healthy workplace,” AgroFarma said in a statement. “Since OSHA’s initial inspection, we have undertaken substantial abatement and corrective actions. We are reviewing the citation and will continue to work with OSHA throughout this process to make our company the industry standard in safety.”
Contact Seltzer
at rseltzer@cnybj.com
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