OSHA Inspection: YORK SNACKS, INCORPORATED

Issued

Oct 16, 1992

Abate by

Feb 16, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,300 · Current $800 Reduced

Hazardous substances 83208330

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which
were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause
death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were
exposed to heat stress:
(a)  York  Snacks, Plant 2 - A Corn Cooker employee was
exposed
to  excessive  heat  from  the  boiling  water  and
steam pipes while the employee was  controlling the flow
of the corn into  the cooker and the water  temperature.
The Wet Bulb  Globe  Temperature (WBGT) was  found to be
89.03 degrees Fahrenheit (F).  This was 1.035  times the
Threshold  Limit  Value  (TLV)  found  in  the  American
Conference  of Governmental Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold
Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents
and  Biological Exposure Indices, 1991-1992.  The sample
taken  for  10 minutes in each of the two (2) major work
areas and  three  (3)  minutes  in  the Holding Vat Area
occupied  by  the  employee  on  August  27,  1992.  The
unsampled  period  of  37  minutes was assumed to be the
same as to employee and employer comments.
(b)  York  Snacks, Plant 2 - A  Sheeting  employee working at
the Little Line was exposed to excessive heat  from  the
oven and  fryer  while  the employee was controlling the
flow of the  corn  into  the  conveyor belt prior to the
oven.  The Wet Bulb Globe  Temperature  (WBGT) was found
to be 89.4 degrees Fahrenheit (F).  This was 1.039 times
the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) found  in  the  American
Conference  of Governmental Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold
Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents
and  Biological Exposure Indices, 1991-1992.  The sample
was taken  for   9 minutes in the work area occupied  by
the employee on August 27, 1992.  The  unsampled  period
of 51 minutes was assumed to be the  same as to employee
and employer comments.
(c)  York  Snacks, Plant 2 - A  Sheeting  employee working at
the  Big  Line  was  exposed  to excessive heat from the
ovens and fryers while  the employee was controlling the
flow of the  corn  into  the  conveyor belt prior to the
ovens.  The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature  (WBGT) was found
to  be  99.09  degrees  Fahrenheit  (F).  This was 1.151
times the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) found in the
American
Conference  of  Governmental   Hygienists  (ACGIH)
Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and
Physical
Agents and  Biological Exposure Indices, 1991-1992.
The sample was taken for  14 minutes in the two (2) work
areas occupied  by the employee on August 27, 1992.  The
unsampled  period  of  46  minutes was assumed to be the
same as to employee and employer comments.
(d)  York Snacks, Plant 2 - Two (2) Picker employee(s) on the
Big Line were exposed  to  excessive heat from the ovens
and fryers while the employees were controlling the flow
of the Corn  Tortilla  Chips coming from the oven before
they go into  the fryer.  The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature
(WBGT) was found to be 90.0 degrees Fahrenheit (F). This
was 1.047 times the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) found in
the   American  Conference  of  Governmental  Hygienists
(ACGIH)  Threshold  Limit Values for Chemical Substances
and  Physical  Agents  and  Biological Exposure Indices,
1991-1992.  The  sample  was  taken for 2 minutes in the
work area occupied  by the  employee on August 27, 1992.
The unsampled  period  of  58  minutes was assumed to be
the same as to employee and employer comments.
(e)  York Snacks, Plant 2 - A Picker  employee  on the Little
Line  was  exposed to  excessive  heat from the oven and
fryer while the employee   were  controlling the flow of
the Corn Tortilla Chips coming from the oven before they
go into the fryer. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)
was found to be  88.0  degrees Fahrenheit (F).  This was
1.023 times the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) found in the
American Conference of  Governmental  Hygienists (ACGIH)
Threshold  Limit  Values  for  Chemical  Substances  and
Physical Agents and Biological Exposure  Indices,
19911992.
The sample was taken  for  3  minutes in the work
area occupied by  the  employee on August 27, 1992.  The
unsampled  period  of  57  minutes was assumed to be the
same as to employee and employer comments.
(f)  York Snacks, Plant 2 - Two (2) Fry Line operator(s) were
exposed  to  excessive  heat  from  the ovens and fryers
while the employee(s) were  controlling  the entire flow
of the product, as well as,  assisting  in  the  general
clean up  of the work station.  The Wet Bulb Globe
Temperature
(WBGT) was found to be  88.49 degrees Fahrenheit
(F).  This was 1.029 times  the  Threshold  Limit  Value
(TLV) found in the American Conference  of  Governmental
Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values  for  Chemical
Substances  and  Physical Agents and Biological Exposure
Indices, 1991-1992.  The sample was taken for 16 minutes
in the three (3) work areas occupied by the employees on
August 27, 1992.  The unsampled  period  of  44  minutes
was assumed to be the   same as to employee and employer
comments.
FEASIBLE ENGINEERING CONTROLS MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
1.  Enlarge the "Cool Spot".  This can be  done by enlarging
the area covered by the present air conditioning vent.
2.  Insall greater insulation on the ovens and fryers covers
and hoods.
3.  Provide the work stations with individual fluid
replacement
containers.
4.  Institute a "Work-Rest" Regiment to allow employees time
to recover from heat stress conditions.
Abatement Schedule
Step 1 - A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the
Area  Director  outlining a schedule for the implementation of
engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee
exposures to  hazardous substances as referenced in this
citation.
This  plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for
the following actions which must be consistent with the
abatement
dates required by this citation:
(1)  Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options;
(2)  Selection  of  optimum  control methods and completion of
design;
(3)  Procurement, installation and operation of selected
control
measures;
(4)  Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of
controls.
%%
All proposed  control  measures  shall be approved for each
particular use  by  a  competent  industrial  hygienist  or
other technically qualified person. 90-day progress reports
are required during the abatement period.
Step 2 - Abatement shall  have  been  completed by the implementation of
feasible engineering and /or administrative controls upon
verification
of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.

Issued

Oct 16, 1992

Abate by

Nov 3, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,300 · Current $975 Reduced

Issued

Oct 16, 1992

Abate by

Nov 3, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,300 · Current $650 Reduced

Issued

Oct 16, 1992

Abate by

Nov 3, 1992

Issued

Oct 16, 1992

Abate by

Nov 3, 1992

Penalty

Initial $1,300 · Current $650 Reduced