OSHA Inspection: SUPERMERCADOS MR SPECIAL INC

Issued

Aug 9, 2006

Abate by

Aug 16, 2006

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 6(a) of the Puerto Rico Occupational Safety and Health Act:  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 physical harm to employees in
that employees were
exposed to:
Seccion 6(a) de la Ley de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo de Puerto Rico:
El patrono no
proveyo empleo y un sitio de empleo libre de riesgos reconocidos que esten
causando o que
puedan causar muerte o dano fisico a los empleados, por cuanto empleados
estaban expuestos
a:
Hazards:  fingers and hand amputation at the point of operation.
a)Employees were working on carnage operation cutting pork, cattle and
goat ribs
and other types of meats with bone using a backsaw Model Hobart 5k-49,
Serial
Number 2220-A 437301 which was not used properly.  They were not trained in
the correct use and secure handling of such equipment due to the fact that
they
performed the cut without put the ribs or any type of meats with bone at
the
machine tray located in the left side of the backsaw.  This tray has at
the backside
a small lifted edge designed to be pushed and to protect the employee hands
avoiding a direct pushing using his hands at the point of operation.  They
did not
fixed the ribs with the stainless steel guard located at the right side of
the machine
which help to make a more secure cut.  Neither they did not let down the
guard
located on the saw blade until the level where the meat with bone or rib
will be
cut in such a manner every time that employees performed the cut a great
space
of the blade was unguarded.  This machine has a tag that establish:
"Warning
moving blade, do not saw without column blade guard in place".  The
employees
did not followed those safety requirements mentioned previously.
Location:  carnage area of the supermarket called Mr. Special Inc.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is provide training to everyone of the employees relating with
this task
in the correct use and secure handling of the machine emphasizing in the
continue
and obligatory use of machine guard and tray.  Also the employees must
require
them to cover the blade of such equipment until the level where the rib or
any
meat with bone will be cut.
Riesgos:  amputacion de dedos y manos en el punto de operacion.
a)Empleados estuvieron trabajando en la operacion de carniceria cortando
costillas
de cerdo, res, cabro y otros tipos de carnes con hueso, utilizando una
sierra de
cortar costillas, modelo Hobart 5K-49, numero de serie 2220-A437301, la
cual
no fue utilizada correctamente.  Ellos no fueron adiestrados en el uso
correcto
y
manejo seguro de dicho equipo debido al hecho de que estos realizaron el
corte
sin colocar las costillas o cualquier tipo de carnes con hueso en la
bandeja de la
maquina localizada en el lado izquierdo de la sierra.  Esta bandeja tiene
en laparte posterior un pequeno borde levantado disenado para ser empujado
y para
proteger las manos del empleado evitando un empuje directo utilizando sus
manos
en el punto de operacion.  Ellos no fijaban las costillas con el resguardo
de acero
inoxidable localizado en el lado derecho de la maquina, el cual ayuda a
hacer un
corte mas seguro.  Tampoco estos bajaban el resguardo localizado en la
hoja de
la sierra hasta el nivel donde la carne con hueso o costilla va a ser
cortado de
manera que cada vez que un empleado hacia un corte, un gran espacio de la
hoja
quedaba sin resguardo.  Esta maquinas tiene una etiqueta que dice: "Cuidado
cuchilla en movimiento, no corte sin el resguardo de la cuchilla de
columna estar
colocado".  Los empleados no siguieron esos requisitos mencionados
previamente.
Localizacion:  area de carniceria del supermercado llamado Mr. Special Inc.
Entre otros metodos, un metodo de correccion factible y aceptable para
corregir
este riesgo es proveer adiestramiento a todos los empleados en el uso
correcto y
manejo seguro de esta maquina enfatizando el uso continuo y obligatorio del
resguardo y de la bandeja.  Tambien el patrono debe requerirles el cubrir
la
cuchilla de la sierra hasta el nivel donde la costilla o cualquier otro
tipo de carnes
con hueso va a ser cortada."

Issued

Aug 9, 2006

Abate by

Aug 14, 2006

Issued

Aug 9, 2006

Abate by

Aug 14, 2006

Penalty

Initial $3,150

Issued

Aug 9, 2006

Abate by

Aug 13, 2006

Penalty

Initial $1,800