OSHA Inspection: CONAGRA FOODS, INC

Issued

Mar 3, 2014

Abate by

Sep 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(a)(3)(ii): A removable railing with toeboard on not more than two sides of the opening and fixed standard railings with toeboards on all other exposed sides. The removable railings shall be kept in place when the opening is not in use.  Where operating conditions necessitate the feeding of material into any hatchway or chute opening, protection shall be provided to prevent a person from falling through the opening.      a.  The employer did not provide fall protection to employees that retrieved samples and checked bin levels from the top bin openings on the bin roof to prevent an employee from falling through the opening.

Issued

Mar 3, 2014

Abate by

Sep 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(2): Each exit must be clearly visible and marked by a sign reading "Exit."    a.  On the 4th floor of the mill, the East emergency exit was not marked by an Exit sign.    b.  On the 5th floor of the mill, the East emergency exit was not marked by an Exit sign.    c.  On the 6th floor of the mill, the East emergency exit was not marked by an Exit sign.

Issued

Mar 3, 2014

Abate by

Sep 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be 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. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices,electronic safety devices, etc.     a.  At the packer station located at the Bemis packing machine, the conveyor belt had an ingoing nip point not properly guarded exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Mar 3, 2014

Abate by

Jun 20, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(2): General requirements for machine guards. Guards shall be affixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere if for any reason attachment to the machine is not possible. The guard shall be such that it does not offer an accident hazard in itself.    a.  On the sixth floor of the mill, 4th Midds Drum Detacher M633, had a shaft and coupler guard that was not affixed to the machine or secured elsewhere.    b.  On the sixth floor of the mill, Airlock Bench #4 M609, had a shaft and coupler guard that was not affixed to the machine or secured elsewhere.    c.  On the sixth floor of the mill, 7 Midds Drum Detacher M626, had a shaft and coupler guard that was not affixed to the machine or secured elsewhere.

Issued

Mar 3, 2014

Abate by

Sep 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(5): Exposure of blades. When the periphery of the blades of a fan is less than seven (7) feet above the floor or working level, the blades shall be guarded. The guard shall have openings no larger than one-half (1/2) inch.     a.  On the sixth floor of the mill, the 7 Midds Drum Detacher M626 had a motor cooling fan with an opening measuring one and a half inch by one inch, exposing employees to an amputation hazard.  The fan was approximately 53 inches from the floor level.     b. On the roof, at bin opening 71, a motor cooling fan did not have a guard installed, exposing employees to an amputation hazard.  The fan was approximately 57 inches from the floor level.

Issued

Mar 3, 2014

Abate by

Sep 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i): Projecting shaft ends shall present a smooth edge and end and shall not project more than one-half the diameter of the shaft unless guarded by nonrotating caps or safety sleeves.     a.  On the sixth floor of the mill, Airlock Bench #4 M609, had a rotating shaft end that was not fully guarded to prevent accidental contact. The diameter of the shaft was approximately 1-1/4 inch in diameter and protruded approximately 3 inches from the equipment.     b.  In the mill basement, the feed loadout airlock motor F032, had a rotating shaft end that was not fully guarded to prevent accidental contact. The diameter of the shaft was approximately 1-1/4 inch in diameter and protruded approximately 3 inches from the equipment.

Issued

Mar 3, 2014

Abate by

Sep 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Guarding. Pulleys, any parts of which are seven (7) feet or less from the floor or working platform, shall be guarded in accordance with the standards specified in paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section. Pulleys serving as balance wheels (e.g., punch presses) on which the point of contact between belt and pulley is more than six feet six inches (6 ft. 6 in.) from the floor or platform may be guarded with a disk covering the spokes.     a.  On the 3rd floor of the mill, 2 Midds Roll #6 M306 had an approximately five inches by one and a half inches opening in the guard, therefore, did not guard all parts of the pulley, exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.  The exposed portion of the pulley was approximately two feet from the floor level.     b.  On the 5th floor of the mill, V2 Vibro Sifter West M507 had an approximately three inch by two inch opening in the guard behind the pulley, thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard. The exposed portion of the pulley was approximately 30 inches from the floor level.

Issued

Mar 3, 2014

Abate by

Jun 20, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprockets and chains. All sprocket wheels and chains shall be enclosed unless they are more than seven (7) feet above the floor or platform. Where the drive extends over other machine or working areas, protection against falling shall be provided. This subparagraph does not apply to manually operated sprockets.    a.   On the sixth floor of the mill, Airlock Bench #4 M609, had a rotating chain and sprocket that was not fully guarded to prevent accidental contact.  The chain and sprocket was located approximately 53 inches from the floor level.

Issued

Mar 3, 2014

Abate by

Jun 20, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(i)(2): Couplings. Shaft couplings shall be so constructed as to present no hazard from bolts, nuts, setscrews, or revolving surfaces. Bolts, nuts, and setscrews will, however, be permitted where they are covered with safety sleeves or where they are used parallel with the shafting and are countersunk or else do not extend beyond the flange of the coupling.    a.  On the sixth floor of the mill, 4th Midds Drum Detacher M633, had a rotating shaft coupling that was not fully guarded to prevent accidental contact.    b.  On the sixth floor of the mill, Airlock Bench #4 M609, had a rotating shaft coupling that was not fully guarded to prevent accidental contact.

Issued

Mar 3, 2014

Abate by

Sep 22, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(2)(i): All pull boxes, junction boxes, and fittings shall be provided with covers identified for the purpose. If metal covers are used, they shall be grounded. In completed installations, each outlet box shall have a cover, faceplate, or fixture canopy. Covers of outlet boxes having holes through which flexible cord pendants pass shall be provided with bushings designed for the purpose or shall have smooth, well-rounded surfaces on which the cords may bear.    a.  At shipping dock #1, outside by the Dok-Lok mechanism, an electrical junction box did not have a cover to prevent contact with live electrical wires.

Issued

Mar 3, 2014

Abate by

Jun 20, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,500 · Current $3,675 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(b)(1): What do I need to do to complete the OSHA 300 Log? You must enter information about your business at the top of the OSHA 300 Log, enter a one or two line description for each recordable injury or illness, and summarize this information on the OSHA 300-A at the end of the year.    Located at ConAgra Foods in Columbus, Ohio:    a.       On the 2014 OSHA 300 Log the employer did not provide all information required in Column F such as the actual cause of injury.  Case 28600, column F stated, "Back Strain", which is insufficient to determine what caused the injury.    ConAgra Foods was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 313207565, citation number 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on November 30, 2010, with respect to a workplace located at 153 Industrial Blvd., Turners Falls, MA 01376

Issued

Mar 3, 2014

Abate by

Sep 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $27,500 · Current $19,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(h): "Railings and handrails." Standard railings shall be provided on the open sides of all exposed stairways and stair platforms. Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of closed stairways preferably on the right side descending. Stair railings and handrails shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of 1910.23.      a.  The top guardrail of the stairway leading down to the elevator basement did not have an intermediate rail on each side, exposing employees to a 7.5 ft fall hazard.    ConAgra Foods Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard (name previously cited standard), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 312728660, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on September 11, 2009 with respect to a workplace located at 195 Alexander Way, Carol Stream, IL 60188.

Issued

Mar 3, 2014

Abate by

Jun 20, 2014

Penalty

Initial $27,500 · Current $19,175 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i): All exposed parts of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform, excepting runways used exclusively for oiling, or running adjustments, shall be protected by a stationary casing enclosing shafting completely or by a trough enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting as location requires.    a.  On the sixth floor of the mill, the 4th Midds Drum Detacher M633 did not have a guard that was completely enclosing the horizontal shaft thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.  The shaft was approximately 53 inches from the floor.    b.  On the sixth floor of the mill, Airlock Bench #4 M609 did not have a guard that was completely enclosing the shaft thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.  The shaft was approximately 53 inches from the floor.    c.  On the sixth floor of the mill, 7 Midds Drum Detacher M626 did not have a guard that was completely enclosing the shaft thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.  The shaft was approximately 53 inches from the floor.    d.  On the 4th floor of the mill, the Agitator, had three shafts that were not guarded thereby exposing employees to a caught-in hazard.  The shaft was approximately 24 inches from the floor.    ConAgra was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 315638601, citation number 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on November 25, 2011 with respect to a workplace located at 6 Santa Fe Way, Cranbury, NJ 08512.