OSHA Inspection: METROLINA GREENHOUSES, INC.

Issued

Mar 2, 2010

Abate by

Mar 10, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of North
Carolina:  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 fall hazards:
a) within the facility, production area, the walking-working platform over
the
moving tables was not guarded by standard railings.
b) within the facility, production area, an employee was observed walking
on the
table lifter tracks while the tables were being moved from outside to
inside
of the
facility.
NOTE:
a) Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to abate this
hazard
is to ensure guardrails are installed at a vertical height of 42 inches
from the
upper surface of top rail to the floor and intermediate rails are installed
approximately halfway between the top rail and the floor.
b) Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to abate this
hazard
is to training employees on the hazards of moving equipment and to guard
entrances to equipment or machinery while operating.

Issued

Mar 2, 2010

Abate by

Mar 10, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of North
Carolina:  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 caught in, struck by
hazards:
a) within the facility, the employer failed to establish and implement an
energy
control procedure (lock-out/tag-out program) that clearly and specifically
outlines
the following items listed in (a) - (d) below for equipment such as, but
not
limited
to, the TTA Combifix, TTA Transplanter, table unstacker, plant trimmer and
table cranes:
[A]A specific statement of the intended use of the procedure;
[B] Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and
securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy;
[C] Specific procedural steps for the placement, removal and transfer of
lockout devices or tagout devices and the responsibility for them;  and
[D] Specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine
and
verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other
energy control measures.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to abate this
hazard
is to ensure the lock-out/tag-out program clearly and specifically outlines
procedural steps in shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing
equipment to
control hazardous energy and performing verification prior to initiating
maintenance or repair work.

Issued

Mar 2, 2010

Abate by

Mar 10, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of North
Carolina:  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 caught in between hazards:
a) within the facility, Feeder tanks, a horizontal shaft measuring 93
inches in length
and 2 inches in diameter was not guarded.
b) within the facility, Production Area, Line 2, a shaft measuring 1 inch
in diameter
measured 1 1/2" in length.
NOTE:
(a-b) Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to abate
these hazards
is to ensure shafts are properly guarded or length reduced to prevent
exposure.

Issued

Mar 2, 2010

Abate by

Mar 10, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,600 Reduced

Issued

Mar 2, 2010

Abate by

Mar 10, 2010

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,600

Issued

Mar 2, 2010

Abate by

Mar 10, 2010