OSHA Inspection: SEDALIA COLD STORAGE CO.

Issued

Aug 12, 2003

Abate by

Sep 26, 2003

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $100 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 ammonia exposures due to the unsafe design
and operation of
refrigeration systems:
The refrigeration systems for Plants 1, 2 & 3 did not meet the applicable
requirements
for the safe design, construction, installation, and operation of
refrigeration systems as
prescribed in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2001, Safety Standard for
Refrigeration
Systems in that:
(a)Plants 1, 2 & 3 - The Machinery Rooms did not conform to Class 1,
Division 2, of the National Electric Code when the employer provided
neither continuously run mechanical ventilation systems that would actuate
alarms upon failure of the ventilation systems, nor detectors located in
areas where refrigerant (ammonia) from leaks would concentrate, that
would actuate alarms and mechanical ventilation systems at concentrations
of 1000 ppm ammonia (ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2001, Section 8.12h).
(b)Plant 2 Machinery Room - Pressure relief devices did not discharge to
the
atmosphere at a location not less than 15 ft (4.57 m) above the adjoining
ground level. The pressure relief devices were located approximately 6.5
ft above ground level (ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2001, Section 9.7.8.2).
(c)Plants 1, 2 & 3 - Systems containing more than 110 lb (50kg) of
refrigerant were not provided with durable signs having letters not less
that 0.5 in. (12.7 mm) in height designating the kind of refrigerant or
secondary coolant contained in exposed piping outside the machinery
rooms (ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2001, Section 11.2.2).
(d)Plant 1 Locker Room Freezer and Plant 2 "Small Freezer" - Refrigeration
systems were not kept accessible at all times in that ammonia refrigeration
piping and associated valves were covered with abnormal ice formations
(ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2001, Section 11.6).
While ultimate responsibility for correcting the hazards rests with the
employer, given
his/her superior knowledge of the workplace, feasible and acceptable
methods
to correct
these hazards, among others, include:
(1)In the Machinery Rooms, provide continuously run mechanical ventilation
systems that would actuate alarms upon failure of the ventilation systems,
or install detectors, located in areas where refrigerant from leaks would
concentrate, that actuates alarms and mechanical ventilation at levels of
1000 ppm ammonia.
(2)Discharge ammonia from pressure relief devices to the atmosphere at a
location not less than 15 ft (4.57m) above the adjoining ground level.
(3)Provide systems containing more than 110 lb (50kg) of refrigerant with
durable signs having letters no less than 0.5 in. (12.7 mm) in height
designating the kind of refrigerant or secondary coolant contained in
exposed piping outside the machinery rooms.
(4)Remove abnormal ice formations from refrigeration systems.
Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this violation
(using the
CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition,
documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included
with
your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to,
evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video
evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Aug 12, 2003

Abate by

Sep 26, 2003

Penalty

Initial $1,500

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 ammonia exposures from failure of ammonia
refrigeration system
components:
(a)Plants 1, 2 & 3 - The ammonia refrigerating systems were not inspected
and
maintained in accordance with the applicable requirements prescribed in
the IIAR
Bulletin No. 110 (3/93), Guidelines for Start-up, Inspection and
Maintenance of
Ammonia Mechanical Refrigerating Systems.
While ultimate responsibility for correcting the hazards rests with the
employer,
give
his/her superior knowledge of the workplace, feasible and acceptable
methods to correct
these hazards, among others, include:
(1)Ensure that an independent competent person conducts and documents a
full
inspection of the ammonia refrigerating systems at Plants 1, 2 & 3.
Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this violation
(using the
CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition,
documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included
with
your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to,
evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video
evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Aug 12, 2003

Abate by

Aug 15, 2003

Penalty

Initial $525 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Aug 12, 2003

Abate by

Sep 26, 2003

Penalty

Initial $225

Issued

Aug 12, 2003

Abate by

Sep 26, 2003

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Aug 12, 2003

Abate by

Aug 15, 2003

Penalty

Initial $375

Issued

Aug 12, 2003

Abate by

Aug 22, 2003

Penalty

Initial $225

Issued

Aug 12, 2003

Abate by

Aug 22, 2003

Penalty

Initial $225

Issued

Aug 12, 2003

Abate by

Aug 15, 2003

Issued

Aug 12, 2003

Abate by

Sep 26, 2003

Issued

Aug 12, 2003

Abate by

Sep 26, 2003