OSHA Inspection: MORNING FRESH FARMS

Issued

May 25, 2011

Abate by

Jun 15, 2011

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,450 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 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 point of operation hazards associated with Fans in the lay houses.                   (a)          Morning Fresh Farms, 15121 County Road 32, and Platteville, CO 80651:  On and before April 28, 2011, the employer did not ensure specific procedures were developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in service function on the fans located in any of the several lay houses.  Condition resulted in an employee attempting to change out the fan belt in a ventilation fan and injuring his right index finger due to an inadequate amount of training and lock out tag out procedures.    Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to perform the following:    ANSI/ASME Z244.1-2003, American National Standard, Section 5.3.1.2 Procedure elements include the following:                   (1)          Identification of machine, equipment or process;                   (2)          Listing of all required energy isolation devices and location;                   (3)          Specific procedural steps for the placement and removal of lockout/tag out devices; and                   (4)          Specific procedural steps for the placement and removal of lock out tag out devices; and                   (5)          Specific requirements for verifying that isolation and de tenderization has been accomplished;   NOTE: The ANSI/ASME Z244.1-2003 standard can be obtained by contacting the American National Standard Institute, 23 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036.   Elements of a 5(a) (1) violation:    1.  The employer failed to keep the workplace free of a hazard to which employees were exposed; the employer failed to ensure that in addition to developing specific procedures for the control of hazardous energy, that those procedures were properly presented and that adequate training was provided to all employees, even temporary labor.   2.  The hazard was recognized:  The hazard is recognized in ANSI/ASME Z244.1-2003, and the employer knew that the fans had a tendency to rotate due to back pressure, thus, he provided employees with a block of wood to attempt to secure the fan blades.   3.  The hazard was causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm; an employee had his right index finger severely lacerated while attempting to change out a fan belt.   4.  There was a feasible and useful method to correct the hazard.  In this case, a physical obstruction to prevent the fan blades from counter rotating was in place, but there is only one per lay house, placing one next to each fan would ensure that they are used.    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (See enclosed  Sample Abatement-Certification Letter).