OSHA Inspection: EARTHGRAINS BAKING COMPANIES INC

Issued

Apr 19, 2006

Abate by

May 15, 2006

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

KRS 338.031(1)(a): 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:
a.Employees were exposed to building collapse and/or flying debris due to a
tornado-producing storm system that prompted activation of the City of
Owensboros civil defense system sirens to be sounded. The National Weather
Service reported rotation in the Owensboro area at or around 4:00 pm CDT on
November 15, 2005. At 4:19.46 PM activation of the tornado warning sirens
was started again due to a report of a funnel cloud just south of the US
60 By-
Pass near the Pettit area of Owensboro which is approximately 3.1 miles
south
southwest from the plant.  Management was aware that tornado warnings were
issued for the area on November 15, 2005 via civil defense sirens, weather
radio, television reports, etc. and had provisions in severe weather
procedure
of emergency action plan.  Office personnel were moved from separate
building into safe areas while production employees were left on the floor.
Companys severe weather procedures provision #3 states the following:  If
it
is determined that a tornado is approaching our facility, manager or
designee
will notify the employees by the paging system to go to their designated
shelters. A feasible and useful method to correct the hazard is to move all
employees to designated shelters when a tornado warnings are issued,
especially once a tornado has been reported to have been spotted in the
area.
Due to their nature, tornados can change paths quickly thus making it
difficult
to discern whether or not it would be approaching any given locale.