Americold Logistics facing $47,300 penalty after OSHA finds safety hazards at company's warehouse in Manchester, Pennsylvania

Employer Name and Location: Americold Logistics LLC is located at 60 Steamboat Boulevard in Manchester, Pennsylvania. The company provides temperature-controlled warehousing and logistical support to the food industry, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Date Investigation Initiated: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an inspection on Nov. 6, 2014, in response to three complaints alleging workplace safety hazards.

Investigation Findings: Americold was cited for two repeat and two serious violations for safety hazards involving forklifts, including forklifts in need of repair not taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition; workers exposed to falls of four feet or more; and improperly anchored storage racks.

Americold Logistics LLC has 15 business days from receipt of citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Quote: "Powered industrial trucks are useful tools, but they can be dangerous," said Kevin Kilp, director of OSHA's Harrisburg Area Office. "Employers are required to properly service this equipment to ensure that they don't kill or injure their employees."

Proposed penalties: $47,300

View the citations: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/AmericoldLogisticsLLC_1006851_0501_15.pdf