Mountaire Farms, at whose poultry processing plant an employee died after an ammonia leak in June, has been fined more than $70,000 for health and safety violations by the state.

Fayetteville Observer reports that the fines are punishment for 22 citations issued by the state Department of Labor. The citations allege mechanics at the Mountaire Farms plant in Lumber Bridge in North Carolina were not trained in the dangers involved in the maintenance procedure that led to the leak. The state also found the emergency response team of employees at the plant was inadequately trained and not properly fitted for gas masks, and that mechanics 'routinely ignored' cases of ammonia exceeding safe temperature and pressure.

The department inspected the plant after one maintenance worker was killed when a high-pressure refrigerant line ruptured on June 20. Four other employees were injured.