OSHA Inspection: HILLSIDE BEVERAGE PACKERS LLC

Issued

Jan 8, 2013

Abate by

Feb 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or equivalent) and toeboards:Note:  Toeboards are only required when persons can pass, there is moving equipment or there is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard.    a) The work platform of the bottle feed station exposes employee(s) to falls of 10' along an unprotected edge where it borders the de-palletizing lift tower due to a lateral gap and open design of the tower frame, as well as at the end section facing the warehouse where no mid rail (or equivalent) is provided.    b) Bottle feed station employee(s) climb atop the de-palletizing lift tower to free bundled bottles by cutting the rear plastic retention band from around the stack; exposing them to hazard of falling 12' from the unprotected edges of the top of the lift tower.     Condition(s) were noted on or about 10/04/2012.

Issued

Jan 8, 2013

Abate by

Feb 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(1)(iv): On stairways more than 44 inches wide but less than 88 inches wide, a handrail was not provided on each enclosed side and a stair railing on each open side.    a) The concrete stairs behind the baler, leading from the warehouse to the back of the packaging floor, had 4 risers of 45" width without any stair railing provided on the open side facing the warehouse.    Condition(s) were noted on or about 7/9/2012.

Issued

Jan 8, 2013

Abate by

Feb 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(g)(2): Exit access(es) were not at least 28 inches (71.1 cm) wide at all points.    a) Employee(s) working within the packaging floor are encircled by the continuous conveyor line and machinery associated with rinsing, filling, capping, labeling and packing of bottled beverages.  No gap or walk over is available for safe exit access in the event of emergency such as a fire; necessitating worker(s) duck under the conveyor.    Condition(s) were noted on or about 10/4/2012.

Issued

Jan 8, 2013

Abate by

Feb 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    a) A hearing conservation program was not established / instituted for employee(s) on the bottling floor who are exposed to continuous workplace noise from pneumatic & motorized packaging equipment.  Personal monitoring measured exposure(s) at 80.3%, 68.4% and 63.4% Dose; equivalent to 8-hour time-weighted averages (TWA) of 88.4 dBA, 87.2 dBA and 86.7 dBA respectively.     Condition(s) were noted on or about 10/4/2012.

Issued

Jan 8, 2013

Abate by

Feb 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.111(e)(5): Any cylinder of anhydrous ammonia which is designed to have a valve protection cap shall have the cap securely in place when the cylinder is not in service.    a) Cylinder(s) of anhydrous ammonia in storage against the interior wall of the tank room and along the upper walkway, did not have a valve cap in place to prevent damage to the cylinder valve from objects striking it.  Employee(s) working / walking in the tank room were exposed to struck-by and/or vapor inhalation hazard(s) in the event of valve rupture and instantaneous release of contents under pressure.    Condition(s) were noted on or about 7/9/2012.

Issued

Jan 8, 2013

Abate by

Feb 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:    a) Drum(s) of Caustic Soda (50% NaOH solution) is connected to the automated clean-in-place system for equipment sanitizing by employee(s) via hose fed into open bung hole at the top.  No emergency eyewash is provided in the work area for quick-flushing of eyes of employee(s) exposed to incidental splashes of caustic soda during drum change over.    Condition(s) were noted on or about 7/9/2012.

Issued

Jan 8, 2013

Abate by

Feb 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):    a) Employee(s) used Caterpillar & TCM brand LPG forklift trucks in the warehouse for movement of pallets of supplies & finished goods without having received training & competency evaluation in the safe operation of the trucks.    Condition(s) were noted on or about 7/9/2012.

Issued

Jan 8, 2013

Abate by

Feb 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(1): Any power-operated industrial truck not in safe operating condition was not taken out of service, and/or repairs were not made by authorized personnel:    a) Caterpillar LPG Forklift truck used for movement of pallets of supplies & finished product was operated throughout the shift with inoperative right brake / back-up light, significant chunks rubber missing from tire periphery, and only 1 of 2 LPG cylinder retention straps in place; exposing operator(s) and other employee(s) in the warehouse to struck-by and crushing hazards.     b) TCM LPG Forklift truck was used for movement of pallets of supplies & finished product throughout the shift with damaged tires missing significant chunks of rubber from the periphery, and without a functional horn; exposing operator(s) and other employee(s) in the warehouse to struck-by and crushing hazards.    Condition(s) were noted on or about 7/9/2012.

Issued

Jan 8, 2013

Abate by

Feb 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven -7 feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:    a) Chain & sprocket drive(s) on the carton folder machine were left unguarded; exposing operator(s) to pinch point   hazard(s).     b) Chain & sprocket drive(s) at the top of the pallet lift used in bottle feed were left unguarded; exposing bottle feed station attendant to pinch point hazard(s).    Condition(s) were noted on or about 10/4/2012.