Ice-Cream Maker Blue Bell Faces OSHA Fines for Ammonia Dangers

A worker passing out from ammonia exposure at a Blue Bell Creameries ice cream plant in Broken Arrow, Okla., has led to OSHA proposing more than $200,000 in fines against the company and a contractor.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration in a statement Tuesday said its inspection of the Blue Bell plant followed a report that a worker with machinery contractor American Thermal Systems Inc., of Conroe, Texas, was overcome by ammonia fumes on Feb. 13. The worker recovered, according to the agency.

Ammonia is often used as a refrigerant in food production plants, and exposure to ammonia gas ...