OSHA Inspection: BRIDGFORD FOOD PROCESSING CORPORATION

Issued

Jun 12, 2008

Abate by

Sep 13, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,000 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 that 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 inhalation hazards associated with anhydrous
ammonia.
Machinery room - On or about January 15, 2008, employees were not
adequately protected
against the potential release of anhydrous ammonia in that:
a. The space containing the refrigeration machinery was not separated from
other
occupancies (such as the boiler room) by tight construction with tight
fitting self-closing
doors.
b. Remote control of the mechanical equipment in the refrigerating
machinery room was not
provided immediately outside the machinery room door solely for the
purpose of shutting
down the equipment in an emergency.
c. Ventilation fans for the machinery room did not have a control switch
located immediately
outside the machinery room door.
d. Pipes piercing the interior walls of the machinery room were not all
tightly sealed to the
walls through which they pass (such as the shower pipe).
e. Durable signs were not provided designating all valves or switches for
controlling the
refrigerant flow, the ventilation, and the refrigeration compressors, and
the kind of
refrigerant contained in exposed piping outside the machinery room (such
as the piping in the
new smoke house area).
f. A schematic drawing or panel giving directions for the operation of the
refrigeration
system was not provided at a location convenient for the operators of the
equipment.
g. Entrances to the refrigerating  machinery room were not provided with
legible permanent
signs, securely attached and easily accessible, reading "Machinery
Room--Autorized
Personnel Only" and further communicating that entry is forbidden except
by those personnel
trained in emergency procedures when the ammonia alarm has been activated.
h. Emergency shutdown procedures, including precautions to be observed in
case of a
breakdown or leak, were not posted outside the machinery room, immediately
adjacent to
each door.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to control these
hazards are to adhere
to the safe design, installation and operation of anhydrous ammonia
refrigeration systems as
prescribed by ANSI/ASHRAE15-2004, "Safety Standard for Refrigearation
Systems",
specifically:
a. Separate the space containing the machinery room from other occupancies
by tightconstruction with tight-fitting doors. (Section 7)
b. Provide a remote control of the mechanical equipment in the
refrigerating machinery room
immediately outside the machinery room door. (Section 8.12)
c. Provide a control switch for the ventilation fans immediately outside
the machinery room
door. (Section 8.12)
d. Seal all pipes piercing the interior walls of the machinery room
tightly to the walls.
(Section 8.12)
e. Identify/label all controls and piping in anhydrous ammonia service.
(Section 11.2)
f. Provide a schematic drawing or panel giving directions for the
operation of the
refrigeration system in a location convenient for the operators. (Section
11.7)
g. Provide legible permanent signs, securely attached and easily
accessible, reading
"Machinery Room--Authorized Personnel Only" and communicating that entry
is forbidden
except by personnel trained in emergency procedures when the ammonia alarm
has been
activated. (Section 11.7)
h. Post emergency procedures outside the machinery room immediately
adjacent to each
door.    (Section 11.7)

Issued

Jun 12, 2008

Abate by

Jun 17, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Jun 12, 2008

Abate by

Jul 15, 2008

Issued

Jun 12, 2008

Abate by

Jul 15, 2008