OSHA Inspection: OLE MEXICAN FOODS, INC.

Issued

Dec 11, 2013

Abate by

Jan 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,300 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  a) Ole Mexican Foods, Inc., Norcross, GA - In the flour tortilla area, an employee operating the line #2 mixer was exposed to noise at a time-weighted average (TWA) of 92.5 dba. An audiometric testing program was not maintained for the temporary employees operating the same and similar equipment in the flour tortilla area. The sample was obtained from a 445 minutes period. Zero was assumed for the 35 minutes unsampled period, on or about 6/20/13.  b) Ole Mexican Foods, Inc., Norcross, GA - In the flour tortilla area, an employee operating the line #4 was exposed to noise level at a time-weighted average (TWA) of 92.9 dba. An audiometric testing program was not maintained for the temp employees operating the same and similar equipment in the flour tortilla area. The sample was obtained from a 442 minutes period. Zero was assumed for the 38 minutes unsampled period, on or about 6/20/13.  c) Ole Mexican Foods, Inc., Norcross, GA - In the corn tortilla area, an employee operating the line #4 was exposed to noise at a time-weighted average (TWA) of 91.8 dba. An audiometric testing program was not maintained for the temp employees operating the same and similar equipment in the corn tortilla area. The sample was obtained from a 470 minutes period. Zero was assumed for the 10 minutes unsampled period, on or about 6/20/13.  d) Ole Mexican Foods, Inc., Norcross, GA - In the corn tortilla area, an employee operating the line #1 mixer was exposed to noise at a time-weighted average (TWA) of 91.9 dba. An audiometric testing program was not maintained for the temp employees operating the same and similar equipment in the corn tortilla area. The sample was obtained from a 472 minutes period. Zero was assumed for the 8 minutes unsampled period, on or about 6/20/13.  e) Ole Mexican Foods, Inc., Norcross, GA - In the corn tortilla area, an employee packing on line #4 was exposed to noise at a time-weighted average (TWA) of 88.8 dba. An audiometric testing program was not maintained for the temp employees packing on the same or similar lines in the corn tortilla area. The sample was obtained from a 463 minutes period. Zero was assumed for the 17 minutes unsampled period, on or about 6/20/13.

Issued

Dec 11, 2013

Abate by

Jan 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:  a)  Ole Mexican Foods, Inc., Norcross, GA - In the corn cook area, employees sprayed cleaning solutions on the equipment that were classified as corrosives. The chemicals solutions contained nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and sulfuric acid. The chemical were pumped out 55 gallon drums and transferred into a bucket. Employees used regular safety glasses when pumping and spraying the corrosive chemical. The use of chemical resistant eye protection was not ensured, on or about 6/14/13.  b)  Ole Mexican Foods, Inc., Norcross, GA - In the heat exchanger room, an employee sprayed cleaning solution in the room that was classified as corrosives. The cleaning solution contained sodium hydroxide. The chemical was pumped out 55 gallon drums and transferred into a bucket. Employees used regular safety glasses when pumping and spraying the corrosive chemical. The use of chemical resistant eye protection was not ensured, on or about 6/14/13.

Issued

Dec 11, 2013

Abate by

Jan 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(b): The employer did not base selection of appropriate hand protection on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the tasks to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified:  Ole Mexican Foods, Inc., Norcross, GA - Employees in the formulation room use utility knives to cut bags. Cut resistant gloves were not provided or used, on or about 6/14/13.

Issued

Dec 11, 2013

Abate by

Jan 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,300 Reduced

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)  Ole Mexican Foods, Inc., Norcross, GA - In the corn cook area, employees sprayed cleaning solutions on the equipment that were classified as corrosives. The chemicals solutions contained nitric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. The chemicals were pumped out 55 gallon drums and transferred into a bucket. An emergency eye wash was not provided in the immediate area, on or about 6/14/13.  b)  Ole Mexican Foods, Inc., Norcross, GA - In the heat exchanger room, an employee sprayed cleaning solution in the room that was classified as corrosives. The cleaning solution contained sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. The chemical was pumped out 55 gallon drums and transferred into a bucket. An emergency eye wash was not provided in the immediate area, on or about 6/14/13.

Issued

Dec 11, 2013

Abate by

Jan 8, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(9): A clear space of not less than 3 feet on all sides was not kept free from storage or combustible construction:  Ole Mexican Foods, Inc., Norcross, GA - In the carpentry shop, construction material such as bags of Quikrete and medium density boards, were stored against the walls of the spray booth, on or about 6/17/13.

Issued

Dec 11, 2013

Abate by

Jan 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(i): The employer having employee(s) with occupational exposure did not establish a written Exposure Control Plan designed to eliminate or minimize employee exposure:   Ole Mexican Foods, Inc., Norcross, GA - At the site, approximately 24 employees were trained and expected to provide 1st aid and CPR. A written Exposure Control Plan for employees potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens had not been established, on or about 6/17/13.

Issued

Nov 27, 2013

Abate by

Dec 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,100 · Current $1,100

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(3): Each recordable injury or illnesses was not entered on the OSHA 300 log and/or incident report (OSHA Form 300A or equivalent) within seven (7) calendar days of receiving information that a recordable injury or illness has occurred:  Ole Mexican Foods, Inc., Norcross, GA - On 6/1/13, an employee an experienced a crushing injury of two fingers on the left hand. Due to the injury, the employee had days away from work. The injury was not recorded on the OSHA 300 log for 2013, on or about 6/14/13.