OSHA Inspection: STAR SNACKS CO., LLC

Issued

Apr 30, 2014

Abate by

Oct 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(8)(ii)(B): Unless a physician determines that the standard threshold shift is not work-related or aggravated by occupational noise exposure, the employer did not ensure, when a standard threshold shift occurs, that for employees already using hearing protectors, employees be refitted and retrained in the use of hearing protectors and provided with hearing protectors offering greater attenuation if necessary:    a) Manufacturing Floor, 105 Harbor Drive, Star Snacks Company, LLC, Jersey City, NJ 07305.    The employer did not provide hearing protection refitting and retraining for employees exposed to noise at or above the action level with diagnosed work-related standard threshold shifts.             Condition observed on or about 1/30/2014.

Issued

Apr 30, 2014

Abate by

Oct 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3): Employees were not given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer:    a) Manufacturing Floor, 105 Harbor Drive, Star Snacks Company, LLC, Jersey City, NJ 07305.    The employer only provided one type of hearing protectors to employees exposed to noise at or above the action level and particularly those with diagnosed work-related standard threshold shifts noted in Citation 1 item 4a and Citation 1 item 4b.             Condition observed on or about 1/30/2014.

Issued

Apr 30, 2014

Abate by

Oct 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k):    a) Manufacturing Floor, 105 Harbor Drive, Star Snacks Company, LLC, Jersey City, NJ 07305.    The employer did not provide initial noise training for all employees exposed to noise at or above the action level to include, but not limited to, those employees described below.          An employee (Hire Date: 10/23/2000) working in plastic machine (new line) was not provided initial hearing conservation training and was exposed to continuous noise levels at 75.3% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 0.75 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 88.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 504 minutes on 3/11/2014.      An employee (Hire Date: 9/25/2002) working in checking (new line) was not provided initial hearing conservation training and was exposed to continuous noise levels at 132.2% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 1.3 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 92.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 501 minutes on 3/11/2014.         Condition observed on or about 3/11/2014.

Issued

Apr 30, 2014

Abate by

Oct 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(2): The training program was not repeated annually for each employee included in the hearing conservation program:    a) Manufacturing Floor, 105 Harbor Drive, Star Snacks Company, LLC, Jersey City, NJ 07305.    The employer did not provide annual noise training for all employees exposed to noise at or above the action level to include, but not limited to, two employees in new line (checking), one employee in dry roaster packing, one employee in bulk packing, and one employee in pouch bag machine packaging.    An employee (Hire Date: 8/21/2006, Missed 2013 Audiometric Exam) working in checking (new line) was not provided 2013 annual training and was exposed to continuous noise levels at 98.4% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 0.98 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 89.9 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 506 minutes on 3/11/2014.     An employee (Hire Date: 8/21/2006, Missed 2013 Audiometric Exam) working in checking (new line) was not provided 2013 annual training and was exposed to continuous noise levels at 114.0% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 1.1 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 90.9 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 504 minutes on 3/11/2014.    An employee (Hire Date: 8/04/2009, Missed 2013 Audiometric Exam) working in dry roaster (packing) was not provided 2013 annual training and was exposed to continuous noise levels at 75.6% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 0.76 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 88.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 499 minutes on 3/11/2014.    An employee (Hire Date: 5/27/2010, Missed 2013 Audiometric Exam) working in bulk (packing) was not provided 2013 annual training and was exposed to continuous noise levels at 117.0% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 1.2 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 91.1 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 496 minutes on 3/11/2014.    An employee (Hire Date: 8/02/2011, Missed 2013 Audiometric Exam) working in pouch bag machine (packing) was not provided 2013 annual training and was exposed to continuous noise levels at 77.6% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 0.78 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 88.1 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 491 minutes on 3/11/2014.            Condition observed on or about 3/11/2014.

Issued

Apr 30, 2014

Abate by

Oct 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(m)(2)(ii)(A): The employee audiometric test records did not include the job classification of each employee:    a) Manufacturing Floor, 105 Harbor Drive, Star Snacks Company, LLC, Jersey City, NJ 07305.    The employer's audiometric records did not include the job classifications for all employees exposed to noise at or above the action level of 85 dBA as an 8 hour time-weighted average.      An employee working in plastic machine (new line) was exposed to continuous noise levels at 75.3% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 0.75 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 88.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 504 minutes on 3/11/2014.      An employee working in checking (new line) was exposed to continuous noise levels at 98.4% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 0.98 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 89.9 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 506 minutes on 3/11/2014.     An employee working in checking (new line) was exposed to continuous noise levels at 132.2% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 1.3 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 92.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 501 minutes on 3/11/2014.      An employee working in checking (new line) was exposed to continuous noise levels at 114.0% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 1.1 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 90.9 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 504 minutes on 3/11/2014.    An employee working in dry roaster (packing) was exposed to continuous noise levels at 75.6% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 0.76 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 88.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 499 minutes on 3/11/2014.    An employee working in bulk (packing) was exposed to continuous noise levels at 117.0% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 1.2 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 91.1 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 496 minutes on 3/11/2014.    An employee working in pouch bag machine (packing) was exposed to continuous noise levels at 77.6% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 0.78 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dBA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 88.1 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 491 minutes on 3/11/2014.    Condition observed on or about 3/11/2014.

Issued

Apr 30, 2014

Abate by

Oct 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

Hazardous substances 05602150

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    a) Warehouse Floor, 30 Pulaski Street, Star Snacks Company, LLC, Bayonne, NJ 07002.    The employer failed to implement a hazard communication program for workers exposed to liquefied propane gas and carbon monoxide while operating powered industrial trucks.       Condition observed on or about 11/4/2013.

Issued

Apr 30, 2014

Abate by

Oct 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 05602150

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:    a) Warehouse Floor, 30 Pulaski Street, Star Snacks Company, LLC, Bayonne, NJ 07002.    The employer failed to train workers operating powered industrial trucks on the hazards of liquefied propane gas and carbon monoxide found in forklift exhaust.         Condition observed on or about 11/4/2013.

Issued

Apr 30, 2014

Abate by

Oct 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $60,050 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(ii): Where mobile test vans were used to meet the audiometric testing obligation, the employer did not obtain a valid baseline audiogram within 1 year of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level:    a) Manufacturing Floor, 105 Harbor Drive, Star Snacks Company, LLC, Jersey City, NJ 07305.    The employer did not obtain a valid baseline audiogram for all employees' first exposure at or above the action level of 85 dBA as an 8 hour time-weighted average.      An employee (Hire Date: 10/23/2000) working in plastic machine (new line) was not given a baseline audiogram and was exposed to continuous noise levels at 75.3% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 0.75 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dbA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 88.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 504 minutes on 3/11/2014.      An employee (Hire Date: 9/25/2002) working in checking (new line) was not given a baseline audiogram and was exposed to continuous noise levels at 132.2% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 1.3 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dbA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 92.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 501 minutes on 3/11/2014.         Condition observed on or about 3/11/2014.

Issued

Apr 30, 2014

Abate by

Oct 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:    a) Manufacturing Floor, 105 Harbor Drive, Star Snacks Company, LLC, Jersey City, NJ 07305.    The employer did not obtain annual audiograms for all employees at or above the action level of 85 dBA as an 8 hour time-weighted average.      An employee (Hire Date: 8/21/2006, Missed 2013 Audiometric Exam) working in checking (new line) was exposed to continuous noise levels at 98.4% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 0.98 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dbA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 89.9 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 506 minutes on 3/11/2014.     An employee (Hire Date: 8/21/2006, Missed 2013 Audiometric Exam) working in checking (new line) was exposed to continuous noise levels at 114.0% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 1.1 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dbA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 90.9 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 504 minutes on 3/11/2014.    An employee (Hire Date: 8/04/2009, Missed 2013 Audiometric Exam) working in dry roaster (packing) was exposed to continuous noise levels at 75.6% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 0.76 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dbA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 88.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 499 minutes on 3/11/2014.    An employee (Hire Date: 5/27/2010, Missed 2013 Audiometric Exam) working in bulk (packing) was exposed to continuous noise  levels at 117.0% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 1.2 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dbA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 91.1 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 496 minutes on 3/11/2014.    An employee (Hire Date: 8/02/2011, Missed 2013 Audiometric Exam) working in pouch bag machine (packing) was exposed to continuous noise levels at 77.6% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour Time Weighted Average sound level of 90 dBA) which is 0.78 times the allowable exposure limit.  The action level is 85 dbA.  The equivalent sound level of the measured dose is 88.1 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 491 minutes on 3/11/2014.    Condition observed on or about 3/11/2014.

Issued

Apr 30, 2014

Abate by

Oct 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $60,050 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0560

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee's exposure to any substance in Table Z-1, the exposure limit of which was not preceded by a "C", exceeded the 8-hour Time Weighted Average given for that substance any 8-hour work shift of a 40-hour work week:    a) Warehouse Floor, 30 Pulaski Street, Star Snacks Company, LLC, Bayonne, NJ 07002.    Employees operating up to seventeen powered industrial trucks throughout the warehouse were exposed to carbon monoxide.    The first employee forklift operator was exposed at 201.7 ppm of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) eight hour time-weighted average carbon monoxide level of 50 parts per million (ppm) which is 4.0 times the allowable exposure limit respectively.  Sampling was performed for 453 minutes on 11/4/2013, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.    The second employee forklift operator was exposed at 251.3 ppm of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) eight hour time-weighted average carbon monoxide level of 50 parts per million (ppm) which is 5.0 times the allowable exposure limit respectively.  Sampling was performed for 435 minutes on 11/4/2013, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.    The third employee forklift operator was exposed at 267.1 ppm of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) eight hour time-weighted average carbon monoxide level of 50 parts per million (ppm) which is 5.3 times the allowable exposure limit respectively.  Sampling was performed for 459 minutes on 11/4/2013, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.    The fourth employee forklift operator was exposed at 231.8 ppm of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) eight hour time-weighted average carbon monoxide level of 50 parts per million (ppm) which is 4.6 times the allowable exposure limit respectively.  Sampling was performed for 457 minutes on 11/4/2013, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.       Condition observed on or about 11/4/2013.    Star Snacks Co LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 311058937, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 11/27/2007 with respect to a workplace located at 105 Harbor Drive, Jersey City, NJ 07305.

Issued

Apr 30, 2014

Abate by

Oct 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0560

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): To achieve compliance with paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, administrative or engineering controls were not first determined and implemented whenever feasible:    a) Warehouse Floor, 30 Pulaski Street, Star Snacks Company, LLC, Bayonne, NJ 07002.    The employer did not perform administrative and/or engineering controls in the workplace with employees operating powered industrial trucks exposed to carbon monoxide such as, but not limited to, activating roof/floor fans, opening bay doors, or properly using fuel additives.      The first employee forklift operator was exposed at 201.7 ppm of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) eight hour time-weighted average carbon monoxide level of 50 parts per million (ppm) which is 4.0 times the allowable exposure limit respectively.  Sampling was performed for 453 minutes on 11/4/2013, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.    The second employee forklift operator was exposed at 251.3 ppm of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) eight hour time-weighted average carbon monoxide level of 50 parts per million (ppm) which is 5.0 times the allowable exposure limit respectively.  Sampling was performed for 435 minutes on 11/4/2013, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.    The third employee forklift operator was exposed at 267.1 ppm of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) eight hour time-weighted average carbon monoxide level of 50 parts per million (ppm) which is 5.3 times the allowable exposure limit respectively.  Sampling was performed for 459 minutes on 11/4/2013, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.    The fourth employee forklift operator was exposed at 231.8 ppm of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) eight hour time-weighted average carbon monoxide level of 50 parts per million (ppm) which is 4.6 times the allowable exposure limit respectively.  Sampling was performed for 457 minutes on 11/4/2013, with the unsampled portion of time considered to represent zero for the exposure calculation.    Condition observed on or about 11/4/2013.        Star Snacks Co LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 311058937, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on 11/27/2007 with respect to a workplace located at 105 Harbor Drive, Jersey City, NJ 07305.