Friday, December 9, 2011

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Cargill Meat Solutions Corp. for 23 violations at its Milwaukee ground beef production plant.

The agency is proposing fines of $146,400. OSHA says Cargill failed to develop "normal operating procedures" for starting ammonia refrigeration systems and conduct equipment inspections and testing at required times, among other things.

Cargill says there were no employee injuries, ammonia releases or food safety issues associated with the alleged violations.

Cargill Meat Solutions spokesman Mike Martin, in Wichita, Kan., says the alleged violations center primarily on documentation. He says the company has an emergency response plan in place to address ammonia releases. The company has 15 business days to comply or
contest the findings.

The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Minneapolis-based
Cargill, Inc.