OSHA Inspection: PATTERSON FARMS

Issued

Jun 30, 2000

Abate by

Jul 10, 2000

Penalty

Initial $550 · Current $100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety
and Health Act of North Carolina:  The employer did not furnish
each of his employees conditions of employment and a place of
employment free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely
to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that
employees were exposed to:
1)Employer Patterson farms failed to provide annual safety
training in the operation of a farm van to the driver
Carlos Amezquita Garcia.  Safety rules for the operation
of equipment such as speed limits in location where large
numbers of hispanic H2A workers were present were not
given the operator Carlos Amezquita Garcia.  On 05-18-00
Carlos Amezquita Garcia operating the employers van to
deliver worker Jose Raymundo Rodriguez Rdz. as well as
pay punch cards to the field, lost control of the van at
approximately 25 miles per hour and after striking a
parked truck struck worker Jose Garcia Lopez.
One appropriate and acceptable method of abatement is to
provide annual training including but not limited to
employer designated speed limits in fields were large
groups of Hispanic H2A workers are present.
2)Employer Patterson Farms failed to provide training to
employees operating fork lifts in the farm shed and
packhouse.  Annual training for forklift operators
should be undertaken in a language and form that is
easily understood to Hispanic H2A Guest workers.
One appropriate and acceptable method of abatement is to
provide training to all fork lift drivers including but
not limited to the safety requirements of the fork lift
manufacturer, as well as all employers local packhouse
safety rules.

Issued

Jun 30, 2000

Abate by

Jul 10, 2000