Schwan’s Georgia Plant Gets 32 Health and Safety Citations

An Atlanta branch of a Minnesota-based food production company was slapped with 32 health and safety violations, federal regulators announced Wednesday.

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration describes the citations for Schwan’s Global Supply Chain Inc. as “serious safety and health violations.” The Atlanta facility employs nearly 500 workers and produces dough, cookies and pie crusts, OSHA officials said in a statement.

Two other companies providing maintenance and staffing services for Schwan’s were cited for 18 safety and health violations. Federal regulators have recommended the company pay $185,700 in fines, and said the inspection of the facility in September of 2013 stemmed from a worker complaint.

The employers failed to provide adequate training for employees to work safely with ammonia, officials said in a news release. Other citations involved machines and protective equipment deemed unsafe; training issues; blocked and mismarked exits in hazardous areas; and other problems. A separate set of fines has been recommended for the contracting agencies.

Schwan’s officials said in a statement that they’re committed to providing a safe workplace for employees and contractors. Schwan’s is based in Marshall, Minn.

“While we do not agree with the findings, we are taking this matter seriously, and we are working through this process with OSHA to ensure the safest environment possible for our people,” Schwan’s spokesman Chuck Blomberg said.

The companies involved have 15 business days after being notified of the violations to either bring the facilities into compliance, request a conference with an OSHA area director or contest the finding before the OSHA Review Commission.