OSHA Inspection: PACKERS SANITATION SERVICES, INC.

Issued

Apr 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $1,785

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): The employer did not select and have each affected employee use, the types of personal protective equipment that would protect the affected employee(s) from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment:  a)  In the process areas, on or about February 6, 2013 and at times prior to, the employer did not have each affected employee use the types of PPE that would protect them from the cleaning chemicals they used, resulting in a chemical hazard.  Chemical Hazard.  Employees are required to clean poultry processing area using cleaning chemicals containing constituents such as:  2-butoxyethanol, sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, among various other ammonia compounds and surfactants.  The employees were occasionally required to lift their arms to clean which sometimes resulted in the cleaning chemicals coming into contact with the skin through the opening between the plastic coat sleeve and rubber glove.  The employer had made plastic sleeves available to employees who requested them, but had not required employees to wear them.  The addition of the plastic sleeves reduce or prevent the chemicals from coming into contact with the employees skin.  The employer failed to properly assess this hazard during their initial assessment.

Issued

Apr 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards were present, or were likely to be present, which necessitated the use of personal protective equipment:  a)  In the process areas, on or about February 6, 2013 and at times prior to, the employer did not assess the workplace to determine the need for personal protective equipment for employees who used cleaning chemicals, resulting in a chemical hazard.  Chemical Hazard.  Employees are required to clean poultry processing area using cleaning chemicals containing constituents such as:  2-butoxyethanol, sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, among various other ammonia compounds and surfactants.  The employees were occasionally required to lift their arms to clean which sometimes resulted in the cleaning chemicals coming into contact with the skin through the opening between the plastic coat sleeve and rubber glove.  The employer had made plastic sleeves available to employees who requested them, but had not required employees to wear them.  The addition of the plastic sleeves reduce or prevent the chemicals from coming into contact with the employees skin.  The employer failed to properly assess this hazard during their initial assessment.