OSHA Inspection: SANDERSON FARMS INC.

Issued

Aug 7, 2014

Abate by

Sep 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3)(iii): For existing equipment designed and constructed in accordance with codes, standards, or practices no longer in general use, the employer did not determine and document that the equipment in the process was designed, maintained, inspected, tested, and operating in a safe manner.   On or about 18 February 2014, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not determine and document that the ventilation system is operating in a safe manner where the electrical system for the room does not meet Class I, Group D, Division 2. Failure to verify and document that the ventilation system still meets the original design specifications in the Engine Room for both normal and emergency mechanical ventilation exposes the workers within the Engine Room to the hazard of anhydrous ammonia liquid or vapor.

Issued

Aug 7, 2014

Abate by

Sep 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,400 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(1): The employer did not develop and implement written operating procedures that provide clear instructions for safely conducting activities involved in each covered process.  On or about 18 February 2014, and at times prior thereto, written operating procedures were not developed to provide clear instructions for conducting activities involved for each covered process, exposing the workers implementing the operating procedures within the anhydrous ammonia system to the hazard of anhydrous ammonia liquid or vapor. a) Initial Start-Up (#1.A) states initial startup took place several years ago, and that for any new equipment to be installed, initial startup procedures will be documented in the equipment's Process Description; b) Temporary Operations (#1.C) states to see Normal Operations on Page 1-3; and c) Emergency Operations (#1.E) states where ammonia leaks may have occurred inside refrigerated rooms, the refrigeration system may be operated normally to facilitate a pump-down or transfer of liquid or gas from one portion of the system to another. However, there is no guidance for Emergency Operations regarding the Engine Room, and no guidance on how to perform a pump-down or transfer in the system. d) The last SOP certification performed on 6/11/13 noted the diffusion tank for SOP revision and addition; however, none of the SOPs are noted on the certification sheet. Additionally, none of the SOPs mention a diffusion tank, and the latest revision date noted on the SOPs is 2012. The diffusion tank came online in 2013.

Issued

Aug 7, 2014

Abate by

Sep 24, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,400 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(i): The employer did not perform inspection and tests on process equipment as related to the mechanical integrity of the components of the ammonia refrigeration system.   On or about 18 February 2014, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not perform inspection and testing of process equipment, exposing the employees who work in and around the refrigeration system to the hazards of liquid or vapor ammonia. The plant had a recent release of approximately 2k pounds of ammonia due to a nipple breaking on a return line from vibration. As a result, the employer reacted by initiating vibration testing on the system, with the last one conducted on 22 January 2014, which had 2 items noted. During the walk through examples of missing valve wheels, missing insulation, excessive icing on a pump in front of V5, and signs of peeling paint and rust with possible pitting was observed. 1) The employer did not test for the corrosion rate of the process equipment that has been functional since 1997. 2) The employer did not perform functional testing on the mechanical ventilation system in the Engine Room.

Issued

Aug 7, 2014

Abate by

Aug 21, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,700 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.145(c)(2)(i): Caution signs were not used to warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices.  On or about 18 February 2014, and at times prior thereto, employees working at the facility were not warned against potential hazards through the use of caution signs on the outside door of the Engine Room, exposing the employees to the hazards of anhydrous ammonia.