Boston Seafood Company Cited for Ammonia Leak that Killed Worker

• Story by Alex Newman, Patch staff

BOSTON, MA – A Boston seafood company was cited for 20 serious safety violations Friday, months after an ammonia leak at its plant killed a Peabody man and father of two.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators determined that insufficient design, as well as lack of proper operation and maintenance of Stavis Seafoods' ammonia equipment, exposed Brian Caron and other employees to a disastrous amount of ammonia, the organization said in a statement.

Caron was killed on March 23 when a pipe burst on the second floor of Stavis Seafoods' plant in South Boston. The Danvers native was married with two young daughters.

According to a statement released Friday, Stavis Seafoods violated a number of safety standards, including failing to label ammonia piping properly; providing a proper ventilation system to prevent a potential explosion caused by an ammonia leak; implementing a regular inspection schedule for pressure canisters; testing ammonia sensors, and ensuring the proper containment of ammonia.

According to the OSHA, there were large holes in the floor of the plant and no door to separate the machine room from a storage room and prevent the spread of ammonia vapor.

"The company’s failure to follow industry and OSHA standards exposed its employees to the hazards of an ammonia release as well as falls, electric shock, hazardous chemicals and delayed or obstructed exit from the facility during a leak or other emergency," James Mulligan, OSHA’s acting area director for Boston and southeastern Massachusetts, said in a statement. "It’s clear that Stavis Seafoods must take effective action to correct these hazards and prevent their recurrence so that no other employees are harmed on the job."

In addition to safety violations related to the storage of ammonia, Stavis was also cited for several electrical hazards, improper labeling and storage of chemicals and infrastructure issues.

OSHA has proposed a fine of $173,168.

In a statement to CBS Boston Friday, Stavis Seafoods CEO Richard Stavis said:

>>> Click here for the full list of violations.

Photo credit: Boston Fire Department via Twitter