OSHA Inspection: ALLEN CORPORATION DBA SOUTH FRESH FARMS

Issued

Jul 18, 1991

Abate by

Jul 23, 1992

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
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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 risk of Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTD) were further
exposed to the risk of increased severity and/or reoccurance of the
illnesses in that an effective ergonomics program was not implemented:
(a)  Kill Line and Fillet Area.
Feasible abatement methods to correct the hazard may include, but
not limited to the following:
1).  Identification of all current employees experiencing
symptoms generally associated with a cumulative trauma
disorder or back injury.
2).  Survey work areas and identify actions and stressors which
may contribute to cumulative trauma disorders or back injuries.
3).  Develop a training program and awarness program for
employees and managers.
4).  Develop a light duty program.
5).  Develop a medical program for tracking cumulative trauma
disorders and back injuries.
Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of abatement
outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or
administrative measures to to control employee exposure to the
hazardous conditions as referenced in this citation.  This plan shall
be submitted within the first ninety (90) days of the abatement
period.  Thereafter, ninety (90) day progress reports shall be
submitted to the Area Director.

Issued

Jul 18, 1991

Abate by

Jul 23, 1991

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
required to perform lifting and repeditive tasks which require various
hand, wrist and arm postures, resulting in stressors likely to cause
cumulative trauma disorders and back injuries and administrative and
Engineering Controls were not implemented:
(a)  Kill Line and Fillet Area.
(i)  Headsaw Operators - Band Saw - While ultimate responsibility
for correcting the hazards rests with the employer given his
knowledge of the operation, feasible and acceptable abatement
methods to correct this hazard may include but are not limited
1).  Allow for work height adjustability.
2).  Reduce the reach distance to the saw.
3).  Put the fish in a fixture to eliminate tight gripping of
fish.
(ii) Rippers - While ultimate responsibility for correcting the
hazards rests with the employer given his knowledge of the
operation, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct
this hazard may include but are not limited to:
1).  Use a powered tool to make the rip cut.
2).  Have the fish positioned in a trolley.
3).  Use gloves that will provide the needed grip on the fish.
4).  Use short blade knives where employees can hold the handle
during ripping operations.
(iii) Long Guns - While ultimate responsibility for correcting the
hazards rests with the employer given his knowledge of the
operation, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct
this hazard may include but are not limited to:
1).  Keep the area cleaner and less slimyso that the fish will
be easier to grip.
2).  Put a cutting edge on the long gun so that the points where
the evisera are connected to the fish can be easily severed.
3).  Have the fish in a stationary trolley and make the vacuum
a hand tool.
4).  Use gloves that will give workers the needed grip on the
fish.
5).  Lower the vacuum nozzle.
6).  Use greater suction force in the vacuums.
(iv) Skinners - While ultimate esponsibility for correcting the
the hazards rests with the employer given his knoweldge of the
operation, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct
this hazard may include but are not limited to:
1).  Have the fish in a stationary trolley and make the vacuum
a hand tool.
2).  Use gloves to make the gripping easier.
3).  Allow for adjustability of work height.
4).  Rinse fish before gripping.
5).  Put the supply of fish to be skinned closer to the workers.
(v)  Fillet  Department - While ultimate responsibility for correcting
the hazards rests with the employer given his knowledge of the
operation, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct
this hazard may include but are not limited to:
1).  Break the task down into a series of tasks to be performed
by different workers to eliminate the excessive movement
required to go from one cut to the next.
2).  Provide a moveable fixture to hold the fish and introduce
them to workers at the correct height and angle.
3).  Provide different types of knives for making different
cuts recognizing that no one knife will be appropriate for all
of the different types of cuts made in the fillet task.
4).  Experiment with alternate methods of filleting.  One slow
cut may be able to do the work of four quick cuts.
5).  Develop a system so that workers always use a sharp knife.
6).  Redesign the workplace so that workers can reach their
supply of fish to be filleted without excessive reaches and
twisting.
7).  Provide for workstation height adjustability.
8).  Provide workplace seating.

Issued

Jul 18, 1991

Abate by

Aug 23, 1991

Penalty

Initial $525 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Jul 18, 1991

Abate by

Aug 23, 1991

Penalty

Initial $525 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

Jul 18, 1991

Abate by

Aug 23, 1991

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $400 Reduced

Issued

Jul 18, 1991

Abate by

Aug 23, 1991

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $250 Reduced