OSHA Inspection: KERRY INC.

Issued

Dec 16, 2025

Abate by

Jan 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $70,938 · Current $52,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(5)(i):Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not evaluate permit space conditions when entry operations were conducted by testing conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions exist before entry is authorized to begin:  a) Kerry Ingredients & Flavours; Dryer Room: On or about June 17, 2025 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to asphyxiation hazards, in that pre-entry and continuous atmospheric testing was not conducted while employees performed entry and cleaning of the food dryers using dry ice abrasive blasting.  Kerry Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard (29 CFR 1910.146(c)(5)(ii)(C)), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1547696, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on (January 14, 2022), with respect to a workplace located at 221 Salem Road SW, Calhoun, GA 30701.

Issued

Dec 16, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,348 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(2):The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces:  a) Kerry Ingredients & Flavours; Process/Utility Area: On or about June 17, 2025, and at times prior, the employer did not inform employees of the existence and location of permit-required confined spaces, in that a Carrier Vibrating Equipment Incorporated tank designated as a permit-required confined space did not display required danger signage such as "Danger - Permit-Required Confined Space - Do Not Enter."

Issued

Dec 16, 2025

Abate by

Jan 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $14,188 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(3):Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations:  a) Kerry Ingredients & Flavours; Dryer Room: On or about June 17, 2025 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to atmospheric hazards, in that the employer exposed employees to atmospheric hazards, in that the employer failed to identify and evaluate the natural gas, oxygen-deficiency, and carbon-dioxide hazards present inside the food dryers prior to entry while employees performed entry and cleaning of the food dryers using dry ice abrasive blasting.

Issued

Dec 16, 2025

Abate by

Jan 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(4)(i):Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not provide, at no cost to the employees, testing and monitoring equipment needed to comply with 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5):  a) Kerry Ingredients & Flavours; Dryer Room: On or about June 17, 2025 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to hazardous atmospheric conditions, in that MSA ALTAIR iD 4-gas detectors were on site but were not calibrated and placed online or provided to employees for use while employees performed entry and cleaning of the food dryers using dry ice abrasive blasting.

Issued

Dec 16, 2025

Abate by

Jan 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(e)(1):Before entry was authorized, the employer did not document the completion of measures required by 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3) by preparing an entry permit:   Note:  Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.146 presents examples of permits whose elements are considered to comply with these requirements.  (a) Kerry Ingredients & Flavours; Dryer Room: On or about June 17, 2025 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to atmospheric hazards, in that the confined space entry permit did not contain the required atmospheric testing information while employees performed entry and cleaning of the food dryers using dry ice abrasive blasting.

Issued

Dec 16, 2025

Abate by

Jan 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $14,188 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(9):The employer did not develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants from permit spaces, for providing necessary emergency services to rescued employees, and/or for preventing unauthorized entry.  a) Kerry Ingredients & Flavours; Dryer Room: On or about June 17, 2025 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to asphyxiation hazards, in that rescue and emergency procedures for oxygen-deficient atmospheres were not provided while employees performed entry and cleaning of the food dryers using dry ice abrasive blasting.

Issued

Dec 16, 2025

Abate by

Jan 15, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(8):  The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical used:  a) Kerry Ingredients & Flavours; SDS Station Near Office Entrance: On or about June 17, 2025, and at times prior, employees were exposed to chemical hazards in that the employer did not ensure that Safety Data Sheets were maintained and readily accessible for all hazardous chemicals present, such as but not limited to natural gas, a known atmospheric hazard associated with the food dryers.