Local pork facility hit with dozens of safety violations

SANDUSKY — The U.S. Department of Labor issued 43 safety violations to a Sandusky-area pork processing facility after it allegedly exposed its workers to ammonia gas. A report released Tuesday details what allegedly happened. The federal labor department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated J.H. Routh Packing Co., which also operates under the name HK Cooperative Inc., on Bogart Road in Margaretta Township in December 2023 and January 2024. It occurred after a local government notified the agency that two workers at the packing company were allegedly exposed to ammonia gas while conducting maintenance on a refrigeration system, according to a release from the federal agency. Investigators with the health administration launched an investigation under the agency's Regional Emphasis Program for food manufacturing. During the investigation, they found a variety of safety concerns, which prompted them to issue "40 serious violations, two other-than-serious violations and one repeat violation." The repeat violation was due to the company allegedly "exposing employees to amputation" and other serious hazards due to inadequate point-of-operation guarding on a meat saw. The administration's area director, Todd Jensen, spoke about the dangers of being exposed to ammonia. "Unsafe exposure to ammonia in refrigeration can irritate the respiratory tract, eyes and nasal passages. At high levels, ammonia exposure may even be fatal," Jensen said. "J.H. Routh Packing Co. and other Ohio food industry employers must review their procedures to continually protect workers from preventable injuries and allow them to end their work shifts safely." Other offenses allegedly committed by the company deemed as "serious violations" by the federal agency include: • Lack of fall protection • Inadequate permit-required confined space procedures • Lockout/tagout procedures for machines • Electrical safety-related work practices • Unsafe electrical equipment and installations • Lack of personal protective equipment • Noise exposure • Lack of an emergency eyewash/shower • No hazard communication plans • Failure to mark all exits • Lack of lockout devices • Unsafe walking-working surfaces and stairways J.H. Routh Packing Co. received previous violations from the health administration in March for "failing to protect employees from bloodborne pathogens and assessed a $13,828 penalty, which the employer is currently contesting. In November 2023, violations were issued for electrical hazards, machine guarding, and improperly maintained tools." A call seeking comment from the company was not returned.