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.
