Industrial Hygiene Testing Services

Huntington Beach, CA, October 13, 2022

Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with a cheese producer operating a facility in Tulare, California. The agency claims the company violated provisions of the Clean Air Act intended to safeguard the public from accidental releases of hazardous chemicals. The company has agreed to pay $170,000 in civil penalties, ensure compliance with its Risk Management Plan, and make safety improvements to its facility with the goal of protecting the public and first responders from dangerous chemicals.

This follows an accident at the cheese plant in 2018 that resulted in the release of 5,690 pounds of anhydrous ammonia. Ammonia is a chemical compound that is both made by humans and naturally found in the environment. A significant amount of ammonia is produced for use as fertilizer, but it is also used as an industrial refrigerant and to manufacture synthetic fibers, plastics, explosives and other materials.

“EPA reports that there are about 150 accidents at facilities that make, use or store extremely hazardous substances such as ammonia refrigeration facilities each year,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “For workers, exposure to ammonia typically occurs through inhalation or skin contact and can cause serious injuries and even fatalities.”

Dedicated to helping companies test for industrial chemicals are the experts at LA Testing. They offer industrial hygiene and environmental laboratory testing services, sampling supplies and monitoring instruments to detect ammonia and other chemical exposure risks. These services and products safeguard workers, the environment and help to keep companies in regulatory compliance. Several years ago, LA Testing sponsored an educational video about ammonia and exposure risks that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/JX6wPV4JHJ4 

To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.


About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor environmental quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.