OSHA Inspection: FIELDALE FARMS POULTRY, LLC

Issued

Jan 5, 1996

Abate by

Mar 1, 1996

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $4,500

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 THE HAZARD OF BEING
STRUCK BY STACKED AND UNSECURED BULK POULTRY CAGES WEIGHING
APPROXIMATELY 800 POUNDS FALLING FROM A FLAT-BED TRAILER; ON OR
ABOUT JULY 14, 1995.
TWENTY BULK POULTRY CAGES (STACKED TWO HIGH AND TEN ROWS) STORED
ON A FLAT-BED TRAILER ARE DELIVERED AND PARKED NEAR THE HEN HOUSE
THAT WILL BE "CAUGHT" BY THE CREW.  THE TRUCK DRIVER OPERATES A
PETTIBONE LIFT TRUCK TO REMOVE SEVERAL CAGES AFTER THE LOAD IS
UNBUCKED FROM THE TRAILER.  THE CATCHING OPERATION TAKES PLACE IN
THE HEN HOUSE WHILE THE LIFT OPERATOR PLACES EMPTY CAGES IN THE
HOUSE AND RETURNS THE FILLED CAGES TO THE FLAT-BED TRAILER. THE
OTHER TRUCK OPERATORS THAT ARE STANDING BY FOR LOADS AND THE
CATCHING CREW SUPERVISOR UNBUCK AND BUCK-DOWN THE CAGES THAT ARE
STORED ON THE TRAILERS.  THEY TRAVEL THE LENGTH OF THE TRAILER,
WALKING UNDER THE STACKED CAGES TO PERFORM THEIR BUCKING DUTIES.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT
METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO REPLACE CAGES THAT ARE
CURRENTLY IN SERVICE WITH NEWLY DESIGNED BULK POULTRY CAGES THAT
NEST TOGETHER TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL DISPLACEMENT AND TO REVISE
OPERATING PROCEDURES TO PREVENT UNBUCKING OF THE STORED CAGES
UNTIL JUST BEFORE THAT ROW OF CAGES IS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE
TRAILER.

Issued

Jan 5, 1996

Abate by

Mar 1, 1996