OSHA Inspection: JBS USA, LLC

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1): When employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized:    (a) JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631: On and before 12/4/12, when employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, the employer did not utilize feasible administrative or engineering controls.  Noise monitoring conducted on 12/19/12, found the hock blow off employee exposed to noise at a dose of 1,714%.  This condition exposed employees to the hazard of noise induced hearing loss.    (b) JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631: On and before 12/4/12, when employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, the employer did not utilize feasible administrative or engineering controls.  Noise monitoring conducted on 2/12/13, found the hock blow off employee exposed to noise at a dose of 1,977%.  This condition exposed employees to the hazard of noise induced hearing loss.    (c) JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631: On and before 12/4/12, when employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, the employer did not utilize feasible administrative or engineering controls.  Noise monitoring conducted on 2/13/13, found the cryovac #1 employee exposed to noise at a dose of 441%.  This condition exposed employees to the hazard of noise induced hearing loss.    (d) JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631: On and before 12/4/12, when employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, the employer did not utilize feasible administrative or engineering controls.  Noise monitoring conducted on 2/13/13, found the round line stuffer employee exposed to noise at a dose of 415%.  This condition exposed employees to the hazard of noise induced hearing loss.    Abatement Note:  Feasible engineering controls include, but are not limited to:    A reduction in employee noise exposure would be considered significant if a three to five decibel noise level decrease is achieved (CPL 2-2.35A).    1) Replace the 3/8 inch nozzle used to air dry the hock with a Silvent 705 air nozzle, or similar product.  Estimated cost for a new air nozzle $215 (from Silvent).           2) Install air exhaust mufflers on the open ports of the solenoid valves for the cryovac units.  Estimated cost for exhaust mufflers $300-400 each (from Allied Witan Company).    Abatement Note:  Abatement of this item will normally be multi-step as follows:    STEP 1: Effective hearing protection shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be implemented or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within exposure limits.    STEP 1 ABATEMENT DATE (15 DAYS): Corrected during inspection    STEP 2:  Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to industrial noise.  The plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which should be consistent with the dates required by this citation:  1) Evaluation of the extent and location of the hazard source(s);  2) Evaluation of control measure options;  3) Selection of optimum control measures;  4) Determination of control measure design;  5) Ordering and delivery of equipment;  6) Installation of control measures;  7) Training of employees in proper orientation and maintenance of newly implemented control measures; and   8) Assurance of the effective performance of control measures.    All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person.  Thirty (30) day progress reports are required during the abatement period.  The progress report must identify the action taken to achieve abatement and the date the action was taken.                    STEP 2 ABATEMENT DATE (30 DAYS):     STEP 3:  Abatement will be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.                    STEP 3 ABATEMENT DATE (90 DAYS):

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 31, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(j)(2): Hearing protectors did not attenuate employee exposure at least to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 90 decibels as required by 29 CFR 1910.95(b):    (a) JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631: On and before 12/4/12, hearing protectors did not attenuate employee exposure at least to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 90 decibels.  Noise monitoring conducted on 12/19/12, found the hock blow off employee exposed to a time-weighted average of 111.5.  The employee wore Tasco Tri-Grip ear plugs with a noise reduction rating of 27dB.  According to 1910.95 Appendix B, the employee was exposed to a time-weighted average of 91.5 under the ear protector.  This condition exposed employees to the hazard of noise induced hearing loss.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,740 · Current $5,667

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) JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631: On and before 12/4/12, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided in the fabrication laundry room.  Corrosive chemicals such as, but not limited to, Spray 66 and Pure Bright Germicidal Bleach are used by employees.  This condition exposes employees to a chemical burn hazard.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,805 · Current $5,667

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b):  Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. when dead-ended:    (a) JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631: On and before 12/4/12, compressed air used for cleaning at the hock blow off was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. when dead-ended.  The pressure of the airline used was approximately 80 p.s.i.  This condition exposed employees to an embolism and flying debris.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jul 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $935 · Current $5,667

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of carbon dioxide listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) concentration of 5,000 parts per million (ppm).    (a) JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631: On 12/18/12, one employee loading dry ice into boxes in the offal area was exposed to carbon dioxide at a concentration greater than the 8 hour TWA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5,000 ppm.  The employee was exposed to carbon dioxide at a concentration of 9,000 ppm as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 1.8 times the PEL.  Exposure to carbon dioxide may cause respiratory distress, dizziness, headache, sweating, and dyspnea.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

Jul 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    (a) JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631: On 12/18/12, the employer did not implement feasible administrative or engineering controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to carbon dioxide in accordance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d).  Air monitoring conducted on found one employee loading dry ice into boxes in the offal area was exposed to carbon dioxide at a concentration greater than the 8 hour TWA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5,000 ppm.  The employee was exposed to carbon dioxide at a concentration of 9,000 ppm as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 1.8 times the PEL.  Exposure to carbon dioxide may cause respiratory distress, dizziness, headache, sweating, and dyspnea.    Abatement note: Feasible engineering controls include, but are not limited to:    1. Provide an adequate ventilation system according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards for the offal area.    Abatement note: Abatement of this item will normally be multi-step as follows:      2. Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to the hazardous substance referenced in this citation.  The plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which should be consistent with the dates required by this citation:  a. Evaluation of the extent and location of the hazard source  b. Evaluation of control measure options  c. Selection of optimum control measures  d. Determination of control measure design  e. Ordering and delivery of equipment  f. Installation of control measures  g. Training of employees in proper operation and maintenance of newly implemented control measures  h. Assurance of the effective performance of control measures    All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person.  Thirty day progress reports are required during the abatement period.  The progress report must identify the action taken to achieve abatement and the date the action was taken.    STEP 1 ABATEMENT DATE (30 DAYS):      3. Abatement will be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and upon verification of their effectiveness in achieve compliance.    STEP 2 ABATEMENT DATE (90 DAYS):

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $5,667

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(1): In addition to the requirements of the Hazard Communication standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200, the employer did not comply with section (l)(2) of this standard:    (a) JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631: On and before 12/4/12, the employer did not ensure that all employees who were assigned to workplaces where there was exposure to chromium (VI) were provided with information and training as required by section (l)(2) of this standard.  Employees perform welding on stainless steel parts.  This condition could result in employee exposure to hexavalent chromium.

Issued

May 31, 2013

Abate by

May 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $5,664

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.10(a): When an employee's hearing test (audiogram) revealed that the employee had experienced a work-related Standard Threshold Shift (STS) in hearing in one or both ears, and the employee's total hearing level was 25 decibels (dB) or more above audiometric zero (averaged at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz) in the same ear(s) as the STS, the employer did not record the case on the OSHA 300 Log:    (a) JBS USA, LLC at 800 North 8th Ave., Greeley, CO 80631: On and before 12/4/12, when employees hearing test revealed that the employees had experienced a work-related STS in one or both ears, and the employees' hearing level was 25 dB or more above audiometric zero in the same ears as the STS, the employer did not record the hearing loss on the OSHA 300 Log.  The condition materially impaired the accuracy the OSHA 300 Log.