OSHA Inspection: ACH FOODS COMPANIES, INC.

Issued

Apr 15, 2013

Abate by

May 31, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,400 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and material safety data sheets:    On or about March 20, 2013, in the facility, employees required to perform packaging operations in the Starch Room were exposed to fire and/or explosion hazards associated with combustible food grade corn starch.  Employees were not provided with the following required information and training at the time of their initial assgnment:    Employees shall be informed of:    (i) The requirements of this section;  (ii) Any operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present; and,  (iii) The location and availability of the written hazard communication program, including the required list(s) of hazardous chemicals, and material safety data sheets required by this section    Employee training shall include at least:  (i) Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.);  (ii) The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area;  (iii) The measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment to be used; and,  (iv) The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation of the labeling system and the material safety data sheet, and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.