OSHA Inspection: SHULTZ FOODS COMPANY

Issued

Jul 19, 1994

Abate by

Sep 20, 1994

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $900 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8330

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 was free from recognized
hazards that were causing or
likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that
employees were exposed to excessive
heat:
(a)Shultz Foods; Oven Area - One (1) employee packing bags of pretzels on
the Number
Nine Line was exposed to excessive heat from the adjacent ovens.  The Wet
Bulb Globe
Temperature (WBGT) was found to be 88.8 degrees Fahrenheit (F).  This was
1.05 times
the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) found in the American Conference of
Governmental
Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values for Chemical
Substances and
Physical Agents and Biological Exposure Indices, 1993-1994.  The samples
were taken
during fifty-nine (59) minutes at Machine #9 and for one (1) minute in
adjacent aisle
while the employee retrieved additional boxes.
(b)Shultz Foods; Oven Area - One (1) employee packing bags of pretzels on
the Wright
Machine adjacent to the Number Nine Line was exposed to excessive heat
from the
adjacent ovens.  The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) was found to be 89.4
degrees Fahrenheit (F).  This was 1.06 times the Threshold Limit Value
(TLV) found in
the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
Threshold
Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and Biological
Exposure
Indices, 1993-1994.  The samples were taken during sixty (60) minutes at
the Wright
Machine Line which included two (2) minutes when the employee temporarily
filled in
for another employee on the adjacent Number Nine Line.
(c)Shultz Foods; Oven Area - One (1) employee picking broken pretzels and
dumping drums
of pretzels onto the shaker table on the Wright Machine Line was exposed
to excessive
heat from the adjacent ovens.  The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) was
found
to
be 88.5 degrees Fahrenheit (F).  This was 1.04 times the Threshold Limit
Value (TLV)
found in the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
(ACGIH)
Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and
Biological
Exposure Indices, 1993-1994.  The samples were taken during fifty-eight
(58) minutes
at the picking end of the Wright Machine Line and two (2) minutes when the
employee
walked over to the Packing Department.
FEASIBLE ENGINEERING CONTROLS MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
1.Separate the packing operations from the oven area.
2.Institute a formal "Work-Rest" Regimen to allow employees time to
recover from heat
stress conditions.
3.Implement a formal heat stress program for affected employees in the
work
area which
would include an acclimatization protocol for new and returning workers.
4.Provide drinking water in the immediate work area and encourage
employees to drink
small amounts, i.e., one cup every 15-20 minutes.
5.Provide employees with personal cooling devices, such as "polar wraps",
"cool cats", or
cooling vests while working in these heat stress areas.
6.Provide "Cool Spot" air conditioning for employees to recover form heat
stress
conditions.
7.Insulate the ovens to reduce the radiant heat emitted by the ovens.
8.Ensure that any leaks are repaired to prevent the release of heat and
humidity into the
workplace.

Issued

Jul 19, 1994

Abate by

Sep 20, 1994

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $900 Reduced

Issued

Jul 19, 1994

Abate by

Jul 29, 1994

Penalty

Initial $800 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Jul 19, 1994

Abate by

Jul 22, 1994