OSHA Inspection: CALAVO GROWERS, INC

Issued

Jun 17, 2013

Abate by

Jul 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $1,339 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3): Exit route(s) were not kept free and unobstructed:  a) Packaging department, near employee break room: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto, the exit route was partially blocked by a permanent pipe with an orange warning cone on it, that extended out from the wall.

Issued

Jun 17, 2013

Abate by

Jul 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(4): Signs were not posted along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge when the direction of travel to the exit or exit discharge was not immediately apparent:  a) Packaging plant: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto an exit sign was not located within the exit access (hallway leading to the break room) that indicated the actual exit was to the right.

Issued

Jun 17, 2013

Abate by

Aug 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $2,231 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy:   a) Puree plant: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto the employer did not develop clear and specific energy control procedures for equipment maintenance and servicing activities.  The written procedures in place did not identify what normal shut down procedures were for the equipment/machinery, or the location of operating controls and circuit breaker panels.  Equipment/machinery included, but may not be limited to the pulper, finisher, disintegrator, pulper pump, and finisher pump.    b) Puree plant: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto the employer had not developed and implemented work practices that would provide the highest level of protection from unexpected start-up or release of unexpected energy for employees performing maintenance and servicing activities.  Authorized employees performing these activities did not have individual lock out device, nor was a group lock out system used.  Equipment included, but may not be limited to the pulper, finisher, disintegrator, pulper pump, and finisher pump.    b) Packaging plant: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto the employer did not develop clear and specific energy control procedures for equipment maintenance and servicing activities.  The written procedures in place did not identify what the normal shut down procedures were, or the location of isolating devices.  Equipment/machinery included, but may not be limited to the Durand Wayland weight sizer.

Issued

Jun 17, 2013

Abate by

Aug 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii): Lockout devices and tagout devices were not used for lockout and tagout purposes only:  a) Puree plant: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto the same type of padlocks used throughout the facility as lock out devices, were used on the main power wall to disconnect the power for equipment that had been taken out of service and was no longer being used.

Issued

Jun 17, 2013

Abate by

Aug 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D): Lockout devices and tagout devices did not indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s):  a) Puree plant: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto ACE padlocks used as lock out devices on the main power wall during the clean in place (CIP) process did not positively identify the actual person who installed the lockout devices, but rather a corresponding key number.

Issued

Jun 17, 2013

Abate by

Aug 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct an annual or more frequent inspection of the energy control procedure to ensure that the procedure and requirements of this standard were followed:  a) Puree and packaging plants:  On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto the energy control program and procedures had not been inspected, reviewed, or updated since 2009.  An annual inspection would have revealed written procedures that did not have all of the information which authorized employees must know to safely control hazardous energy.  This includes but may not be limited identifying all power/energy sources, their current isolating locations, and detailed shut down procedures.  An annual inspection would have revealed that accepted practices did not provide the highest level of employee protection when performing scheduled and unscheduled servicing and maintenance activities.  This includes but may not be limited to authorized employees who do not have their own lockout devices, nor do they maintain control of the lock out devices they are installing.

Issued

Jun 17, 2013

Abate by

Aug 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(iv): The employer had not certified that employee training had been accomplished and kept up to date:  a) Facility: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto the employer did not ensure that appropriate training for authorized and affected employees of the energy control program (lockout/tagout) had been accomplished and kept up to date since August of 2009.

Issued

Jun 17, 2013

Abate by

Aug 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(2)(i): When outside servicing personnel were engaged in activities in a facility, the onsite employer and the outside employer did not inform each other of their respective lockout or tagout procedures:  a) Facility: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto the employer had not established a policy and implemented a procedure to exchange information about their respective energy control plans (lockout tagout) with outside contractors who are working in the facility on a regular basis.  Outside contractors include but may not be limited to the USDA food inspectors.

Issued

Jun 17, 2013

Abate by

Aug 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(f)(3)(i): A procedure was not utilized to afford the employees a level of protection equivalent to that provided by the implementation of a personal lockout or tagout device when servicing and/or maintenance was performed by a crew:  a) Puree plant pulper, pulper pump, finisher, finisher pump, and disintegrator machines: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto the morning crew employees who do the final cleaning on the puree plant equipment/machinery while guards (cages and housings) are removed and gauges are open, are not required to apply their own energy control devices while performing these activities.  They rely on the control devices installed by the puree plant employees.

Issued

Jun 17, 2013

Abate by

Aug 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,785 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.176(b): Storage of material was not stable and secure against sliding or collapse:    a) Refrigerator room #5: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto the storage rack systems in place exposed employees to struck- by or crushing hazards from failure of the rack system or a component of the system.  The rack systems were not regularly inspected or properly maintained.  Columns had visible damage.  Column base plates were damaged or missing.  Columns were not secured to the floor.  Safety devices were damaged and not positively engaged to the column, or missing completely.

Issued

Jun 17, 2013

Abate by

Aug 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,785 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) Outside of puree plant: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto employees were exposed to an in-running nip point hazard at the out-feed side of the "T-dump" machine where chain and sprocket assemblies were not guarded.     b) Packaging plant, various locations on bin sizer machine: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto employees at work stations along the weight sizer machine, and employees who service the bin return area were exposed to an in-running nip point hazard where chain and sprocket assemblies were not guarded.   c) Receiving area, band saw: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto the belt and pulley guard assembly on the Wells Metal Band Saw was not in place.

Issued

Jun 17, 2013

Abate by

Aug 2, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i): Unguarded projecting shaft end(s) did not present a smooth edge and shaft end(s) projected more than one half the diameter of the shaft:  a) Packaging plant, Durand Whalen weight sizer machine:  On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto employees walking and working in the area were exposed to smooth, unguarded rotating shafts that projected out more than one half the diameter of the shaft.  These included but may not be limited to shafts in the bin return area.    b) Packaging plant, Durand Whalen weight sizer machine: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto employees walking and working in the area were exposed to unguarded, notched rotating shafts that projected out more than one half the diameter of the shaft.  These included, but were not limited to conveyor shaft(s) on the backside of the machine, and shafts near the employee work stations.

Issued

Jun 17, 2013

Abate by

Jun 27, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $1,339 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:  a) Puree plant: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto a single 120 volt re-locatable power tap (power strip) was used to power a compact size refrigerator, a small microwave, a coffee pot, a radio, and a phone charger.  b) Puree plant: On February 7, 2013 and at times prior thereto a single 120 volt re-locatable power tap (power strip) was used to power a compact refrigerator, a small microwave, and a fan.