The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit supported a ruling by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding a fine imposed on Sanderson Farms. The issue involved violations relating to the anhydrous ammonia system installed at the Waco, TX facility. The Court accepted the submission by OSHA that maintenance and operation of the system did not meet standards of "good engineering practice".
Litigation followed an inspection of the Waco plant in 2017 resulting in penalties amounting to $70,618. A review commission reduced the penalty to $9,000 by waiving four of six violations.