OSHA Inspection: TYSON FARMS FRESH PRODUCTS DIVISION

Issued

May 18, 2004

Abate by

Jul 6, 2004

Penalty

Initial $3,150 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

NCGS 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North
Carolina:  The
employer did not furnish to each of his employees conditions of 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 the employee(s) were
exposed to:
a)establishment, receiving area-the employer failed to ensure that all
sources of
energy including electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, and kinetic energy,
were
blocked, locked, and tagged out of service on all sides of the dump
conveyor
system prior to allowing dump operators to  enter the walkways adjacent to
the
live bird receiving conveyors to inspect, unjam cages, or retrieve
chickens.
NOTE:  Feasible and acceptable abatement methods would include:
1)   written work procedures which would prohibit the placement of
cages when employees are on the conveyor line walkways and
training in these procedures; and/or
2)communication between the dump operators and the forklift
operators via walkie talkie, strobe lights, or other means;
and/or
3)a physical barricade to prevent the placement of cages on the
conveyor lines while employees are on the walkways to the
conveyor lines.
OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE:
29 CFR 1910 147(c)(4)(i):  Procedures were not developed, documented, and
utilized for the
control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in
activities covered
by this section:
a)establishment, receiving area-the employer failed to ensure that
procedures
were developed, documented, and utilized for the control of potentially
hazardous energy prior to dump operators entering the walkways adjacent to
the live bird receiving conveyors to inspect, unjam cages or retrieve
chickens.
OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE:
29 CFR 1910.147(d)(4)(i):  lockout or tagout devices were not affixed to
each energy
isolating device by authorized employees:
a)establishment, receiving area-the employer failed to ensure that all
sources of
energy including electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, and kinetic energy,
were
blocked, locked, and tagged out of service on all sides of the dump
conveyor
system prior to allowing dump operators to  enter the walkways adjacent to
the
live bird receiving conveyors to inspect, unjam cages, or retrieve
chickens.