OSHA Inspection: HANOVER FOODS CORPORATION

Issued

Oct 20, 2014

Penalty

Initial $6,000 · Current $3,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(c):  Covers and/or guardrails shall be provided to protect personnel from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, etc:    a) Lima Bean Washing Line - Employees were susceptible to fall injuries as multiple process drainage ditches were left uncovered, posing a tripping hazard.  Conditions observed on October 1, 2014.

Issued

Oct 20, 2014

Penalty

Initial $6,000 · Current $3,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(a)(26):  Scaffolds were not secured to permanent structures, through use of anchor bolts, reveal bolts, or other equivalent means:    a) Produce Freezing Line  Employees climbing ladder rungs on metal scaffolding for access to platforms adjacent to processes such as, but not limited to, produce freezing, were exposed to a fall hazard as the scaffolding, that was not secured to process equipment, had a tendency to tip over toward an employee climbing the ladder.  Condition observed on October 1, 2014.    Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit abatement certification, required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Oct 20, 2014

Abate by

Nov 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(e)(3)(v): The process hazard analysis did not address the hazards related to facility siting:     a) House Ammonia Engine Room - Employees were exposed to a potential ammonia exposure hazards as physical barricades or other protective engineering controls were not in place to protect the process equipment (ammonia vessel and piping), adjacent to compressor no. 9, running positioned alongside the forklift travel route to and from the waffle area, from damage and consequential ammonia release.  Condition observed on April 23, 2014.    Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit abatement certification, required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Oct 20, 2014

Abate by

Nov 7, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $2,100 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(e)(5): The employer did not establish a system to promptly address the process hazard analysis team's findings and recommendations; assure that the recommendations are resolved in a timely manner and that the resolution is documented:    a) Hanover Foods Corporation, Clayton, DE - Employees were exposed to hazards posed by a potential ammonia release in that recommendations such as, but not limited to, those listed below, were not resolved.  Conditions observed on April 23, 2014.     Unresolved Items    1. Purger equipment in the "House Engine Room" was not securely supported on the wall.  The weight of the purger pulling away from the wall could cause pipe connections to fall resulting in an ammonia release.    2. A leak detector in area of recirculator for CSA #2 was not installed to detect a potential ammonia leak from process connections in the hallway outside of CS #2 .    Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit abatement certification, required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Oct 20, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,550 · Current $1,785 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a): One or more methods of machine guarding was not 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:    a) Key Washer Final Wash Conveyor - Employees were exposed to a caught-by hazard posed by the end of an unguarded rotating motor conveyor shaft.  Condition observed on October 7, 2014.

Issued

Oct 20, 2014

Abate by

Feb 16, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8870

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(2): Live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more shall be guarded against accidental contact by use of approved cabinets or other forms of approved enclosures or by any of the means described in 1910.303(g)(2)(A), (B), (C), (D):         a)  480 Volt Electrical Equipment Cage Area - Covers were removed from 480 volt electrical cabinets and the cage area was not locked to prohibit unauthorized entry, exposing employees to an electrocution hazard from the unguarded live parts within the cage.  Condition observed on April 23, 2015.