OSHA Inspection: U.S. FOODSERVICE, INC.

Issued

Nov 25, 2009

Abate by

Dec 30, 2009

Penalty

Initial $2,275 · Current $2,275

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 a struck by hazard from failing storage racks:
a)  Dry Good Warehouse - The steel storage racks did not have plaques
posted indicating
the maximum permissible unit load and/or maximum uniformly distributed
load per level
and the maximum total load per bay.  An accident occurred when the racking
storage of
Ketchup, Maple Syrup, Water, Marinara Sauce and Mushrooms collapsed,
crushing an
employee's ankle between racking material and the forklift, on or about
July 28, 2009.
ABATEMENT NOTE:  Among others, one feasible and acceptable method of
abatement to
correct the hazard is to comply with ANSI MH16.1:2008, entitled
Specification
for the Design,
Testing and Utilization of Industrial Steel Storage Racks, Section 1.4.2
Plaque, which states,
"The owner is responsible for displaying in one or more conspicuous
locations a permanent
plaque(s).  Each plaque shall have an area of not less than 50 square
inches.  Plaques shall show
in clear, legible print (a) the maximum permissible unit load and/or
maximum uniformly
distributed load per level, (b) the average unit load (PL average, See
Section 2.6.2) if applicable
and (c) maximum total load per bay.  The unit load is usually a single
pallet or container and
its contests mechanically transported.  Storage levels having multiple
stacking of unit loads shall
be so identified.  It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that
the rack system is not
altered so that the plaque information is invalidated."
Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The
certification shall
include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of
abatement, and states
employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.tives