Matt Popovich

OSHA Penalizes Hanover Foods for Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, Plant Safety Violations

April 25, 2024
More than 70 violations were observed, and the administration has assessed more than $761,000 in penalties to the vegetable and snacks processor.

Hanover Foods Corp., which processes frozen, canned and freeze-dried vegetables and snack products, has been found to be in violation of dozens of safety and health hazards at its Centre Hall, Pa., facility, according to a release from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and U.S. Dept. of Labor (DOL).

OSHA has assessed $761,876 in penalties in conjunction with 70 violations, including nine repeat, 51 serious and 11 other-than-serious violations. The issues were found in October 2023, when inspectors opened an investigation at the plant in response to a complaint. The filing alleged hazards around Hanover Foods’ handling of highly hazardous chemicals.

Infractions were related to a lack of training, not correcting equipment deficiencies, failing to document equipment compliance with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, and failing to establish an emergency plan for the entire plant.

This is not the first time the DOL has found workplace safety issues at the company’s facilities. OSHA cited the company for similar violations at its Clayton, Del., facility in 2019 and 2021. Hanover Foods Corp. operates eight other manufacturing plants, including five in Pennsylvania and one each in Delaware, New Jersey and Guatemala.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of their citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the release noted.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.

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