A Hawaiian ice-making company faces nearly $108,000 in fines following an anhydrous ammonia spill that forced neighboring businesses to evacuate.
Employees of Jems Enterprises LLC, which does business as Hawaiian Ice, were repairing leaks in its ice-making equipment April 24 when 3,900 pounds of the 7,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia on site was released.
Anhydrous ammonia is corrosive to the skin, eyes, and lungs.
The spill exposed employees to inhalation and fire hazards, and neighboring businesses were forced to evacuate, Hawaii’s Occupational Safety and Health Division said in a citation alleging 14 serious violations.
“The employer did not ...