OSHA Inspection: NORTHERN METROPOLITAN RESIDENTIAL HEALTH CARE FACI

Issued

Dec 18, 1997

Abate by

Dec 31, 1997

Penalty

Initial $1,100 · Current $800 Reduced

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:
On or about November 6, 1997
a) Employees were exposed to the hazard of over-exposure to low
temperatures that could result
in hypothermia. The walk-in freezer door in the meat kitchen could not be
opened from inside
the freezer. If the door closes behind an employee at the end of the day
shift, the employee
could become locked inside the freezer until the following morning
resulting in the over-
exposure to low temperatures.
One feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to
install a door handle
mechanism that complies with paragraph 5.4 of Underwriters Laboratories,
Inc. Standard UL
471 (1987) which states: "Unless provided with other means of exit,
door(s)
intended for
entrance of persons into the refrigerated compartment of a refrigerator
shall be provided with
a latch release mechanism that will open the door(s) from the inside by a
force applied outwardly
to the door or to a release actuator. If the latch is provided with a key
lock, the latch release
mechanism shall be constructed so that the lock can be opened from the
interior."d

Issued

Dec 18, 1997

Abate by

Jan 20, 1998

Issued

Dec 18, 1997

Abate by

Dec 23, 1997