Crime & Safety
Exclusive: Boston Seafood Plant Where Man Died Was Repeatedly Fined For Health Violations
The Stavis Seafoods warehouse has been cited with over two dozen health and safety violations by OSHA since 2000.
BOSTON, MA - The seafood warehouse where a worker died Wednesday night in an ammonia leak was cited multiple times for serious violations of safety and health standards, including hazards associated with anhydrous ammonia in the facility's refrigeration system.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration in 2009 proposed more than $47,000 worth of fines for Stavis Seafoods' warehouse on Channel St. for deficiencies in its process safety management program. OSHA cited the company for 16 violations, 15 of which were deemed "serious."
Ultimately, the company reached a settlement with OSHA and agreed to pay a fine of just $15,750. OSHA deleted nine of the 15 violations as part of the agreement, according to OSHA records.
In 2000, the warehouse was fined $6,000 for 10 violations, six of which were classified as "serious." Stavis settled in 2001 and paid $3,000.
"The requirements of OSHA's PSM standard are stringent and comprehensive because a leak could have a severe or catastrophic effect on employees," said Brenda Gordon, OSHA's area director for Boston and southeastern Massachusetts, in September 2009.
About 5,300 pounds of ammonia had spilled Wednesday night before the main valve was shut off and the leak stopped, the Boston Fire Department said.
Surrounding streets in the Seaport District were shut for a time as crews responded to the scene.
Firefighters reportedly had difficulty accessing the source of the leak inside the large cold-storage facility.
The incident was declared a level 3 hazmat situation and firefighters donned full-body protective gear as they entered the building.
Guests at nearby hotels were ordered to stay in place.
Stavis recently announced it was finalizing plans to move to a new seafood facility on the waterfront.
The company said in a statement released just before midnight that it is "devastated to learn that one of our warehouse employees has died as a result of the ammonia leak."
Photo credit: Boston Fire Department via Twitter
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