OSHA Inspection: FORRENCE ORCHARDS, INC.

Issued

2009-12-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2010-02-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2500.00 · Current $1250.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employmnent 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 fall hazard when elevated in apple bins on the forks of
forklift trucks to
perform maintenance work in the cold storage room(s); training was not
provided for new-hired
employees in the safe operation of powered industrial trucks prior to them
operating the trucks;
refresher training was not provided at least every three years; no
certification of training was
maintained; all violations of ASME/ANSI B56.1-2000.  Also, the operator of
the forklift moved
the truck while the employees were elevated, a violation of ANSI
B56.1-1975:
(a)During the month of August 2009, the employer allowed personnel to be
elevated
to heights up to 20 feet in wooden apple bins on the forks of forklift
trucks in
order to perform maintenance tasks such as but not limited to repairing
walls of
the cold storage rooms to prevent air leaks.
(b)On or about 11/24/2009, employer failed to provide training to new-hired
employees prior to allowing them to operate forklift truck(s).
(c)On or about 11/24/2009, employer failed to provide training refresher
training at
least every three years as required.
(d)On or about 11/24/2009, employer failed to maintain certified
documentation
when training was provided in March 2004.
(e)During the month of August 2009, operator of the forklift truck
elevating
personnel traveled with employee in the apple bin.
Feasible means of abatement include:
1Provide proper equipment for safely elevating personnel using a forklift;
2Use a vehicle that is designed to move employees safely on elevated work
platforms such as a scissor lift;
3Train employees in the proper and safe use of equipment as required prior
to
allowing them to operate forklift trucks;
4Maintain proper documentation;
5Include as part of the forklift training that the use of forklifts to
elevate personnel
is not permitted unless the proper equipment with fall protection is used.
ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION AND CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED FOR
THIS ITEM