OSHA Inspection: JBS USA, LLC

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,805 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(3)(ii):  Every hatchway and chute floor opening was not guarded by a removable railing with a toeboard on not more than two sides of the opening, and fixed standard railings with toeboards on all other exposed sides. Where operating conditions necessitated the feeding of material into the hatchway or chute opening, protection was not provided to prevent a person from falling through the opening:    a)  JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631:  On or about December 4, 2012, employees working at the end of the value added line were exposed to a 5 foot fall hazard caused by an open chute through which meat fell onto a lower conveyor.  The round open chute measured 24 inches in diameter, and was guarded only by a metal guard measuring 20 inches high.  Condition exposed employees to a fall hazard of 5 feet.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(5):  Every pit and trapdoor floor opening, infrequently used, was not guarded by a floor opening cover of standard strength and construction. While the cover was not in place, the pit or trap opening was not constantly attended by someone and was not protected on all exposed sides by removable standard railings:    a)  JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631:  On or about December 4, 2012, cleaning and maintenance employees were exposed to fall hazards in the chemical storage area where a pit containing water from the processing floors was missing its cover.  The hole measured 34 inches x 18 inches.  Condition exposed employees to a fall hazard of about 7 feet deep, and to drowning and asphyxiation hazards.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(8)(ii): Every floor hole into which person can accidentally walk was not guarded by a floor hole cover of standard strength and construction:    a)  JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631:  On or about December 4, 2012, the employer did not ensure that two floor holes, measuring 2.5 inches x 5 inches, where the flesher machine operators stood, were covered.  Condition exposed employees to a tripping hazard near the flesher machine operations.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,740 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii):  Points of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employees from having any part of their body in the danger zones during operating cycles:    a)  JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631:  On or about December 4, 2012, maintenance employees were exposed to point of operation hazards in the following instances:    1)  The point of operation of a 25 ton hydraulic press in the slaughter maintenance shop was not guarded.      2)  A Sharp VH3 mill in the special project maintenance shop was not guarded;    3)  A Wilton 20 inch drill press in the slaughter mechanic shop was not guarded;     4)  An Ellis drill press in the fab maintenance shop was not guarded; and    5)  An Ellis drill press # 2 in the basement of the fab maintenance shop was not guarded;    Conditions exposed employees to amputation hazards.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,740 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(5):  Fan blade guards were not provided where the periphery of the blades was less than seven feet from the floor or working level.  The openings exceeded 1/2 inch:    a)  JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631:  On or about December 4, 2012, two 30 inch diameter fans in the Offal area were not guarded on the louver side, with the louvers measuring 3 inches wide, and the fan was 44 inches above the floor.  Condition exposed employees to amputation hazards.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,675 · Current $7,000

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)  JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631:  On or about December 4, 2012, the employer did not ensure that the sprocket wheel and chain for the bonemeal dryer in the rendering area was enclosed.  The sprocket wheel, which was about 5 feet in diameter, and chain rotated down to within 22 inches of the floor, and was within 2 feet from the walkway alongside the dryer.  Although a partial shield was in place to prevent employees from brushing against the sprocket wheel and chain as they walked by, the shield did not enclose the moving parts and did not prevent employees from reaching in while the dryer was in operation.  Condition exposed employees to amputation hazards.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 31, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,384 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i):  Pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings were not provided with covers approved for the purpose:    a)  JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631:  On or about December 4, 2012, the employer did not provide a cover for a 110 volt junction box used with the head splitter in the Offal area.  Condition exposed employee to electrical shock hazards.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $38,500 · Current $7,000 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:    a)  JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631:  On or about December 4, 2012, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from machine guarding hazards in the following instances:    1)  Employees in the Flesher Machine area were exposed to an amputation hazard caused by an unguarded auger, measuring 26 inches x 26 inches, at floor level, used to carry hide parts away;    2)  Employees in the Flesher Machine area were exposed to an amputation hazard caused by an unguarded auger on one corner of the flesher machine platform, measuring 12 inches x 10 inches, and the opening included a chute measuring 28 inches above floor level;    3)  Employees in the Flesher Machine area were exposed to a pinch point hazard caused by a metal elbow cycling on a sprocket, used to push the front rollers of the flesher machine forward and backward, with a distance to the point of operation of 10 inches;    4)  Four augers in the rendering area carrying bone meal were not guarded, with the openings measuring 26 inches square, and set with hoppers measuring 22 inches high;    5)  An auger transferring bone meal in the rendering area was not guarded near the second floor platform ladder, measuring 26 inches x 10 inches and 14 inches from the ladder;    6)  The grit pit included an opening for a screw auger that measured 6 inches x 7 inches and the point of operation was 20 inches from the walkway;    7)  The Hide Plant included two vertical rollers to rinse water from the hides.  One roller included a gap in its expanded metal guard measuring 6 inches x 24 inches at floor level, and another gap 4 inches x 24 inches at belt high.  In addition, these two vertical rollers included rotating shafts at the top, accessible via the second level platform, that were not guarded;    8)  The Marvel Strong-Blum Series 8 Mark II vertical band saw in the slaughter mechanic shop had 30 inches of the non-working part of the blade, on the back side, that was not guarded;    9)  An Ellis horizontal band saw in the fab maintenance shop included about 4 inches of exposed, nonworking part of the blade;    10)  An Ellis 120 volt horizontal band saw in the special project maintenance shop included 6 inches of the nonworking part of the blade that was not guarded;    11)  The red tallow machine in rendering included a 2 foot wide horizontal shafting at one end, near the gauge, that was not enclosed;    12)  Employees in the Alvey area were not protected from rotating parts hazards caused by unguarded power rollers near a control station.  The rollers were 12 inches from the control station, 14 inches above the floor, 42 inches long, and about 36 inches wide;    13)  Employees in the Alvey area were not protected from rotating parts hazards caused by unguarded overhead power rollers while walking on the second floor walkway.  The rollers were 12 inches wide, and were 56 inches above the walkway;    Conditions exposed employees to amputation hazards.      JBS dba Swift & Company was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent, 29 CFR 212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 311908982, citation number 1, item 11, issued May 14, 2009 and became a final order on May 12, 2010, with respect to a workplace located at 800 North 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $5,667

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.29(a)(4)(ii):  A manually propelled mobile ladder stand was provided without a positive wheel or swivel lock to prevent movement:      a)  JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631:  On or about December 4, 2012, the employer provided a manually propelled stainless steel mobile ladder stand for PSSI use in cleaning the upper conveyors of the Fabrication area, and this ladder stand did not have a positive wheel or swivel lock to prevent movement.  Condition exposed cleaning contractor employees to fall hazards of up to 6 feet.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $5,667

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2): Each exit was not clearly visible and marked by a sign reading Exit:    a)  JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631:  On or about December 4, 2012, the employer did not ensure that the room adjacent to the Fabrication area, where the cleaning employees hooked up their water hoses, included an Exit sign.  Condition exposed employee to slips, trips, and fall hazards for falling down steps.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $5,667

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(6):  Each exit sign was not illuminated to a surface value of at least five foot-candles (54 lux) by a reliable light source and be distinctive in color:    a)  JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631:  On or about December 4, 2012, the employer did not ensure that the exit signs in the flesher machine room were illuminated.  Condition exposed employee to physical hazards caused by inadequate egress including fall and burn hazards.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $5,667

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A):  Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:    a)  JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631:  On or about December 4, 2012, the employer allowed the use of flexible cords as a substitute for permanent wiring in the following instances:    1)  The 440 volt Cram-A-Lot bailer/compactor was powered through the use of a 105 inch long flexible cord, draped between the controls and the power source, that inhibited the operator's workstation; and    2)  The 480 volt 25 ton hydraulic power press located in the slaughter mechanical shop included a flexible cord and plug that stretched across the entryway to the room, for plug in on the opposite side of the room.    Condition exposed employee to electrical shock hazards.