OSHA Inspection: MEADOWBROOK DAIRY COMPANY

Issued

Jan 23, 2012

Abate by

Feb 27, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,500 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 operating
and emergency procedures were not developed, procedural training had not
been conducted, and
adequate detection equipment / alarms were not in place to prevent,
detect, and/or mitigate the
effects of an ammonia release from the ammonia refrigeration system:
A.) Meadowbrook Dairy, 2365 Buffalo Road, Erie, PA 16510 - Company
employees were
potentially exposed to a release of ammonia due to a lack of operating and
emergency
procedures.  Operating and emergency procedures had not been developed and
implemented for
the purpose of preventing and/or mitigating the effects of an onsite
ammonia release.
American National Standards Institute / American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating
and Air Conditioning Engineers 15-2010 (ANSI/ASHRAE) Safety Standard for
Refrigeration Systems, Section 11.7 Responsibility for Operation and
Emergency
Shutdown states:
It shall be the duty of the person in charge of the premises on which a
refrigeration
system containing more than 55 lb (25 kg) of refrigerant is installed to
provide a
schematic drawing or panel giving directions for the operation of the
system at a location
that is convenient to the operators of the equipment.
Emergency shutdown procedures, including precautions to be observed in
case of a
breakdown or leak, shall be displayed on a conspicuous card located as
near as possible
to the refrigerant compressor.  These precautions shall address
a. instructions for shutting down the system in case of emergency;
b. the name, address, and day and night telephone numbers for obtaining
service; and
c. the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all corporate, local,
state, and federal
agencies to be contacted as required in the event of a reportable incident.
When a refrigerating machinery room is used, the emergency procedures
shall be posted
outside the room, immediately adjacent to each door.
International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) Bulletin 110,
Section 5.2.2
states:
Confirm that the operating procedures are complete and address steps for
each operating
phase.  Ensure that the operating procedures include operating limits,
safety and health
considerations, and safety systems and their functions.
ABATEMENT NOTE:
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means to correct the
condition described in
Instance A. include but are not limited to:
1.) Complying with applicable requirements noted in ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2010
Safety Standard
for Refrigeration Systems and IIAR Bulletin 110 regarding operation and
emergency shutdown
procedures.
B.) Meadowbrook Dairy, 2365 Buffalo Road, Erie, PA 16510 - Company
employees were
potentially exposed to a release of ammonia due to a lack of operational
and emergency training
on the ammonia refrigeration system.  Training for employees operating and
maintaining the
process had not been conducted.
IIAR Bulletin 110, Section 5.2.3 states:
The Employer shall verify that training has been completed for the
following items and
personnel:
a. Employees involved in operating the process shall be trained in an
overview of the
process and the operating procedures.  The training shall include safety
and health
hazards, emergency operations and safe work practices.  The training shall
be
documented and it shall be verified that the employees understood the
training.
b. Employees involved in maintaining the on-going integrity of the
equipment shall be
trained in an overview of the process and its hazards.  The training shall
include the
procedures applicable to the employees' tasks.
ABATEMENT NOTE:
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means to correct the
condition described in
Instance B. include but are not limited to:
1.) Complying with applicable requirements noted in IIAR Bulletin 110
regarding employee
training.
C.) Meadowbrook Dairy, Engine Room - Company employees were potentially
exposed
to a
release of ammonia due to a lack of an ammonia detector that actuates
audible and visual alarms,
inside and outside of the Engine Room, and engages the mechanical
ventilation in the Engine
Room.
ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2010 Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems Section
8.11.2.1
states:
Each refrigerating machinery room shall contain a detector, located in an
area where
refrigerant from a leak will concentrate, that actuates an alarm and
mechanical ventilation
in accordance with Section 8.11.4 at a value not greater than the
corresponding TLV-
TWA (or toxicity measure consistent therewith).  The alarm shall
annunciate visual and
audible alarms inside the refrigerating machinery room and outside each
entrance to therefrigerating machinery room.  The alarms required in this
section shall be of the manual
reset type with the reset located inside the refrigerating machinery room.
ABATEMENT NOTE:
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means to correct the
condition described in
Instance C. include but are not limited to:
1.) Complying with applicable requirements noted in ANSI/ASHRAE 15-2010
Safety Standard
for Refrigeration Systems regarding ammonia detectors, alarms, and
mechanical ventilation.

Issued

Jan 23, 2012

Abate by

Feb 27, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,400 Reduced