OSHA Inspection: LA TOLTECA FOODS, INC.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Jul 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,760 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees, in that, employees were exposed to crush-by hazards by operating a powered industrial truck which was not equipped with a seat belt in the operator's seat:    (a) On or about April 10, 2014, and at times prior, employees of La Tolteca Foods, Inc., were exposed to crush-by hazards, in that, a Clark GCS-17 propane forklift, in the repair shop, was operated without a seat belt assembly.          Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Jul 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,320 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(3): Floors, working places, and passageways were not kept free from protruding nails, splinters, holes, or loose boards:    (a) On or about April 23, 2014, and at times prior, La Tolteca Foods, Inc., did not ensure that floors, working places, and passageways were kept free from protruding nails, splinters, holes, or loose boards. Employees were exposed to trip and fall hazards in that the floor metal boards in the storage room were found to be loose, bent, and protruding creating an uneven floor surface.    Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Jul 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,760 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floor(s) or platform(s) 4 feet or more above the adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded by standard railings (or the equivalent as specified in 29 CFR 1910.23(e)(3)(i) through (v)), on all open sides:    (a) On or about April 23, 2014, La Tolteca Foods, Inc., did not ensure that platforms four feet or more above ground level were guarded by standard railings. Employees were exposed to fall hazards in that:    #1- The walking platform, in the rear of the building, leading from a fire exit to the waste container, is not guarded by standard railings. Platform is 50 feet long, 53 inches wide, and has a height of 50 inches.        #2- The unused side of the loading dock, in the back of the maintenance shop, is not guarded by standard railings.        Unused loading dock area is 10 feet long, 48 inches wide, and a height of 51 inches.       Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Jul 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,320 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator was competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):    (a) On or about April 23, 2014, and at times prior, La Tolteca Foods, Inc., did not ensure that the operators of a Clark GCS-17 propane forklift were competent to safely operate such equipment, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in 29 CFR 1910.178(l).    Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,122 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(e)(1): Cabinets, cutout boxes, fittings, boxes, and panelboard enclosures in damp or wet locations were not installed to prevent moisture or water from entering and accumulating within the enclosures:    (a) On or about April 23, 2014, and at times prior, La Tolteca Foods, Inc., did not ensure that electrical boxes in damp or wet locations were installed to prevent moisture or water from entering and accumulating within the enclosures. Employees were exposed to contact with electrical hazards in that:    #1- Cover for the weatherproof receptacle next to the freezer in the production line was missing.  #2- Cover for the weatherproof receptacle feeding 240V power to the plasticizer machine was missing.  #3- Two covers for the weatherproof receptacles feeding power to the feeder machine were missing.     Abatement Note: Abatement certification is not required for this item.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,122 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(1): Flexible electric cords were fastened with staples or otherwise hung in such a fashion as could damage the outer jacket or insulation:    (a) On or about April 23, 2014, and at times prior, La Tolteca Foods, Inc., did not ensure that flexible electrical cords were not fastened with staples or otherwise hung in such a fashion as could damage the outer jacket or insulation. Employees in the warehouse were exposed to contact with electrical hazards in that an extension cord was routed under garage doors and fastened with bent nails to the wall, extension cord was live, plugged into an indoor receptacle to feed power for the block heaters on the trucks outside the warehouse.    Abatement Note: Abatement certification is not required for this item.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(3)(i): A flexible cord used with grounding type equipment did not contain an equipment grounding conductor:  (a) On or about April 23, 2014, and at times prior, La Tolteca Foods, Inc., did not ensure that flexible cords used with grounding type equipment contain an equipment grounding conductor. Employees in the warehouse were exposed to contact with electrical hazards in that an extension cord, used to plug in an air compressor, was missing the ground prong on the plug.   Abatement Note: Abatement certification is not required for this item.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Jul 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,640 · Current $2,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one fourth inch:    (a) On or about April 23, 2014, and at times prior, La Tolteca Foods, Inc., Inc., did not ensure that the distance between the abrasive wheel and the adjustable tongue guard did not exceed one fourth inch. A Central Machinery bench grinder, item #37822 was observed in the repair shop, grinder had a distance of 3/4 inches between the abrasive wheel and the tongue guard exposing employees to struck-by hazards.        Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").    La Tolteca Foods, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 313721862, citation number 1, item number 1b and was affirmed as a final order on September 7, 2010, with respect to a workplace located at 720 W 8th Street, Pueblo, CO 81003.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Jul 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.32(b)(6): The Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300A or equivalent) for the previous year was not posted between February 1 and April 30:  (a) On or about April 23, 2014, and at times prior, La Tolteca Foods, Inc., did not ensure that the summary of work-related injuries and illnesses for the previous year was posted between February 1 and April 30. At the time of inspection the OSHA 300A forms or their equivalent were not posted.   Abatement Note: Abatement certification is not required for this item.

Issued

Jun 27, 2014

Abate by

Jul 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the information specified under paragraphs (f)(6)(i) through (ii) of this section:  (a) On or about April 23, 2014, and at times prior, La Tolteca Foods, Inc., did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked. Employees in the production line area were exposed to chemical hazards, in that:   #1- A 3-gallon container with Clorox/water was not properly labeled.  #2- A 1-quart spray bottle with glass cleaner was not labeled.       Abatement Note: Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").