OSHA Inspection: PFS LOADING SERVICES, LLC

Issued

May 28, 1999

Abate by

Jun 30, 1999

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

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 inhalation hazards from overexposures to ammonia:
At the establishment - In the following instance, an employee performing
the job task
listed below was exposed to ammonia in excess of the Threshold Limit Value
(TLV) of
25 ppm (parts per million) as an eight hour time weighted average (8 hr.
TWA) as
established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH
1983-1984).
For any sampling period listed below less than 480 minutes (8 hours), the
calculation of
the TWA assumes zero exposure for the balance of the time unsampled.
Barn #34 (1/14/99) - Bird Crew employee pulling fowl was exposed to
elevated levels
of ammonia. The employees measured eight hour time weighted average (8 hr.
TWA)
was equal to 41 ppm for the 355 minute sampling period. The employees
exposure was
1.6 times the TLV.
Instantaneous colorimetric readings indicated that the ACGIH (1983-1984)
Short Term
Exposure Limit (STEL) of 35 ppm may be regularly exceeded. Instantaneous
readings
in excess of the STEL included;
DateTimeReadingLocation
1/12/996:50 p.m.35 ppmApproximately 100 ft. down middle aisle from
loading door of Barn 34 adjacent to Bird Crew
employees
1/12/996:57 a.m.45 ppmEgg conveyor aisleway, Barn 34, adjacent to
Bird Crew employees
1/14/997:35 a.m.35 ppmEnd of Barn 34
1/14/999:05 a.m.35 ppmSouth wall, approximately 100 ft. down aisle
from egg conveyor, Barn 34, adjacent to
Bird Crew employee
Abatement Note:
1. The employer shall make every effort to first institute engineering
controls to reduce or
eliminate employees' exposure. Among other methods, some feasible and
acceptable engineering
controls to reduce or eliminate employee exposure include, but are not
limited to:
a)Frequent cleanout of deep pit barns (ex. between each flocks - every
approx. 60
weeks)
b)Improved ventilation in barns. This may include increasing ventilation
rates,
moving exhaust fans from cage level to pit level, arrange for more closure
of
"gaps" below chicken cages and design for make-up air from one side of the
pitto push/pull air across the pit and out opposite side, close doors
between barns
to allow more efficient operation of barn exhaust fans.
c)Application treatments to manure in pit that include Peat, vermiculite,
or alum.
2. Should engineering controls fail to reduce exposures, the employer, as
a second measure,
shall institute administrative work practice controls (i.e., employee job
rotation) as a means to
reduce exposure.
3. Should both measures mentioned above fail to reduce employees
exposures, the employer
shall supplement provided engineering/administrative controls with
personal protective
equipment.

Issued

May 28, 1999

Abate by

Jun 5, 1999

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $500 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 employees
were exposed to inhalation hazards associated with lack of fitting of
respirator prior to respirator
use:
At the establishment - During the inspection, when respiratory protection
was required
to protect the health of employees, it was determined that employees
performing the job
tasks listed below had not received respirator fitting.
10's Barns, (12/17/98) - Bird Crew employee performing stuffing and
pulling of hens
required to wear respiratory protection had not been provided a fit test
when wearing a
full-facepiece, negative pressure respirator.
Abatement Note:
Assure that all employees who wear a negative pressure respirator receive
appropriate fit testing.

Issued

May 28, 1999

Abate by

Jun 1, 1999

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $375 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 employees
were exposed to the hazard of communicable diseases associated with
exposure to Tetanus,
Salmonella and Hepatitis A in that shower facilities were not used by
employees the following
instances:
a)(2/4/99) - Compliance Officer observed employee of the Bird Crew, who had
been stuffing pullets in Barn #2 on this day and was visibly contaminated
with
offal and fecal matter, fail to utilize the shower facility provided at
the farm.
b)(2/4/99) - Compliance Officer observed employee of the Bird Crew, who had
been stuffing pullets in Barn #2 on this day and was visibly contaminated
with
offal and fecal matter, fail to utilize the shower facility provided at
the farm.
c)(2/4/99) - Compliance Officer observed employee of the Bird Crew, who had
been stuffing pullets in Barn #2 on this day and was visibly contaminated
with
offal and fecal matter, fail to utilize the shower facility provided at
the farm.
d)(2/4/99) - Compliance Officer observed employee of the Bird Crew, who had
been stuffing pullets in Barn #2 on this day and was visibly contaminated
with
offal and fecal matter, fail to utilize the shower facility provided at
the farm.
e)(2/4/99) - Compliance Officer observed employee of the Bird Crew, who had
been stuffing pullets in Barn #2 on this day and was visibly contaminated
with
offal and fecal matter, fail to utilize the shower facility provided at
the farm.
f)(2/4/99) - Compliance Officer observed employee of the Bird Crew, who had
been stuffing pullets in Barn #2 on this day and was visibly contaminated
with
offal and fecal matter, fail to utilize the shower facility provided at
the farm.
In addition, the Compliance Officer noted that another Bird Crew,
comprising of
approximately 8 to 10 employees who had been pulling fowl in Brooder Barn
#5
on this
same day, fail to return to the shower/locker facility at the end of the
day.
Abatement Note:
Provide shower facility with adequate supply of towels and assure/enforce
the use of these
facilities by work crews at the end of their work shift.