OSHA Inspection: FARMLAND FOODS INC.

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.176(b):     Material stored in tiers was not stacked, blocked, interlocked or limited in height so that it was stable and secure against sliding and collapse:(a)(LOCATION)(IDENTIFY SPECIFIC OPERATION(S) AND/OR CONDITIONS)(DESCRIBE HAZARDS WHERE NECESSARY)    The employer failed to protect employees from potential struck by hazards associated with storing product and materials on damaged storage racks.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 2223 County Road I, Crete, NE 68333, where the employer has employees using forklifts to stock and remove product and materials from storage racks throughout the warehouse facilities and in some instances those storage racks have damage to the lower legs and cross members that leave the structural integrity in question and create the potential for pallets of materials and product to fall down and injure employees.   Instances include but are not limited to:    i.  Ware house storage racks CA1/CA2F have damaged legs and cross members.    ii.  Ware house storage racks CA2/CA1F have damaged legs and cross members.     iii.  Export room cooler, storage racks have damaged legs.

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,300 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(6):     The employer did not ensure that all nameplates or markings were not maintained in a legible condition:(a)(LOCATION)(IDENTIFY SPECIFIC OPERATIONS AND/OR CONDITIONS)(DESCRIBE HAZARDS WHERE NECESSARY)    The employer failed to protect employees from potential struck by hazards associated with operating powered industrial trucks with illegible warning labels.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 2223 County Road I, Crete, NE 68333, where the employer has employees using a Yale model ERP03TGN36T0077 forklift, serial number E807N03947Y to stock and remove product and materials from storage racks throughout the warehouse and the forklift has illegible warning labels thus leaving necessary safety information unavailable for the operators.

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $6,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1):     One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:    The employer failed to protect employees from potential amputation hazards associated with operating equipment with inadequate or missing guarding.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 2223 County Road I, Crete, NE 68333, where the employer has employees operating and cleaning equipment within the scope of their duties and the equipment either is missing the guard or has inadequate guarding.  Instances include but are not limited to:      i.  Employees using a Dayton 10 table saw, model 6Y943C in the fabrication of cutting tables used throughout the plant without having the guarding or nonkickback fingers (dogs) installed on the saw to prevent potential amputations hazards.    ii. Employees using the Dat-Schaub Gut Cleaning Machine located on the Fresh Chitts finishing Line, where the employer has a guard installed across a roller to prevent an employee from getting their hands caught in the machine however the guard will flex enough without activating the interlock system that it allowed an employee to get fingers caught in the machine while cleaning it with a green pad.

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,400 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(a)(4):     Work rest(s) on grinding machinery were not adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one eighth inch:(a) (LOCATION) (IDENTIFY SPECIFIC OPERATION(S) AND/OR CONDITIONS) (DESCRIBE HAZARD(S) WHERE NECESSARY)    The employer failed to protect employees from potential struck by hazards associated with operating a bench grinder where the tool rest is not adjusted close to the abrasive wheel and not to exceed one eighth inch.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 2223 County Road I, Crete, NE 68333, where the employer has employees using a Baldor bench grinder, model G8-16511, serial # F1288 to sharpen tools and grind/smoothen down sharp edges on metal products used in the fabrication of various products throughout the facility.

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9):     The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one fourth inch:(a) (LOCATION) (IDENTIFY SPECIFIC OPERATION(S) AND/OR CONDITIONS) (DESCRIBE HAZARD(S) WHERE NECESSARY)Note:  Use only for bench, floor, or cylindrical grinders.    The employer failed to protect employees from potential struck by hazards associated with operating a bench grinder where the tongue guard is not adjusted close to the abrasive wheel and not to exceed one quarter inch.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 2223 County Road I, Crete, NE 68333, where the employer has employees using a Baldor bench grinder, model G8-16511, serial # F1288 to sharpen tools and grind/smoothen down sharp edges on metal products used in the fabrication of various products throughout the facility.

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i):     Except as elsewhere required or permitted by Subpart S of Part 1910, live parts of electric equipment operating  at 50 volts or more were not guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the means identified in paragraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) of 29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2)(i):    The employer failed to protect employees from potential electrical hazards associated with having an unsecured electrical panel box contain live circuits to several pieces of equipment in the facility.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 2223 County Road I, Crete, NE 68333, where the employer has employees accessing the circuit breakers in Panel LA BR2-P3 feed from BR2-P4-13, 120 - 240v, to de-energize equipment in the pickle room and the bacon box shop and the front of the panel box is not secured to the panel box as there are 8 missing mounting screws thus leaving a gap around the panel cover and the box large enough to expose employees to live wiring.

Issued

Feb 7, 2013

Abate by

Feb 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.145(f)(5):     Danger tags were not used where an immediate hazard presented a threat of death or serious injury to employees:    The employer failed to protect employees from potential amputation hazards associated with operating equipment with inadequate or missing labeling.  This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 2223 County Road I, Crete, NE 68333, where the employer has employees operating equipment to perform duties and the equipment either is missing labeling that would identify dangerous employee exposures.  Instances include but are not limited to:      i.  Employees using the Dat-Schaub Gut Cleaning Machine located on the Fresh Chitts finishing Line, where the employer has a guard installed across a roller to prevent an employee from getting their hands caught in the machine however there are no Danger signs posted to inform the employees in the area that there are potential amputation hazards while operating or performing maintenance on this machine.