Arctic Glacier faces OSHA fine over alleged safety violations

The Canadian-based ice company Arctic Glacier is facing a $67,000 fine over alleged safety violations at its Hicksville plant, a federal agency said Tuesday.

Arctic Glacier U.S.A. Inc. lacked a “comprehensive and effective” program to prevent the release into the air of large amounts of hazardous chemicals that are used to make ice, such as anhydrous ammonia, the U.S. Labor Department said.

The department said the Long Island office of its Occupational Safety and Health Administration unit conducted an investigation that uncovered alleged violations between September 2015 and January. Without an adequate safety program, OSHA said the company runs the risk of an uncontrolled release of ammonia in the plant with “catastrophic and lethal consequences” for workers.

The company couldn’t be reached for comment. It has 15 business days after receiving the citation to comply or meet with OSHA to contest the findings.

Last spring Arctic Glacier and Hicksville-based Nuzzolese Bros. Ice, a longtime ice manufacturer on Long Island, formed a joint venture in which Nuzzolese agreed to distribute ice in the metropolitan area, while Arctic Glacier took over its ice-making operations.