OSHA Inspection: TYSON FOODS, INC

Issued

Feb 8, 2007

Abate by

Mar 7, 2007

Penalty

Initial $4,500

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 being struck by moving motorized
vehicles:
This hazard existed on or about November 27, 2006, and times prior thereto,
at the chicken processing plant located in Center, TX, in that the
employer did
not ensure adequate separation was maintained between various motorized
vehicles operating on the premises, as well as separation between vehicles
and
pedestrians, where employees performing work related tasks or walking
between plant areas were in the same travel space utilized by industrial
vehicles.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct
this hazard
include, but are not limited to:
(1) Perform job hazard analysis for tasks performed in areas where
vehicular
traffic is also permitted. Such analysis would include assessments of the
tasks
performed (including their purpose and timing), the vehicles (including
their
purposes and timing) and the environment (configuration, suitability of
physical barriers to isolate pedestrians, illumination or noise
interferences).
(2) Perform traffic control studies at the site, integrating principles of
motor
vehicle safety with principles of process efficiency, with the goal of
minimizing intersections of pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
(3) Once pedestrian and vehicle traffic zones are determined:
a. Mark the respective travel lanes with both signage and
roadway/walkway striping paint;
b. Mark all designated "parking" and "no parking" areas with
appropriate signage;
c. Provide and require the use of high-visibility vests to those
pedestrians who must walk contiguous to roadways; and
d. Inform all pedestrians and vehicle operators (including
visitors to the site) of the steps they must follow to comply with
the traffic control plan.
(4) Perform an illumination survey in all plant locations where
pedestrians and
employees are in close proximity or have the potential to be in close
proximity
to vehicular traffic.