OSHA Inspection: COUNTRY ACRES CIDER & PRODUCE, INC.

Issued

May 1, 2015

Abate by

May 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(ii): Prior to permitting an employee to operate a powered industrial truck (except for training purposes), the employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training required by paragraph (l):    a)  In the Cooler Warehouse - On or about November 21, 2014, the employer had not ensured that each operator had successfully completed classroom and practical forklift training and evaluation prior to permitting employees to operate the Liquid Propane (LP) powered forklift.       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

May 1, 2015

Abate by

May 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7): Industrial trucks were not examined before being placed in service, and shall not be placed in service if the examination shows any condition adversely affecting the safety of the vehicle. Such examination shall be made at least daily:    a)  In the Cooler Warehouse - On or about November 21, 2014, the employer had not ensured that each fork lift had been inspected each day before being placed into service or after each work shift in which they were used.       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

May 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0560

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employees were exposed to an airborne concentration of Carbon Monoxide listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8-hour Time-Weighted Average concentration of 50 parts per million particles of air (50 ppm) for any 8-hour work shift of a 40-hour work week, and attenuated accordingly for extended work shifts in extended work weeks:    a)  In the Cider Plant - An employee, the Apple Inspector, was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) of 248 parts per million particles of air (ppm), approximately 4.97 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ppm; this is the limit established to prevent CO poisoning.  The exposure level was derived from blood percent carboxyhemoglobin levels collected and analyzed at Chambersburg Hospital in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania after a 327-minute exposure period, during one work shift on November 5, 2014.      b)  In the Cider Plant - An employee, Cider Maker, was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) of 142 parts per million particles of air (ppm), approximately 2.83 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ppm; this is the limit established to prevent CO poisoning.  The exposure level was derived from blood percent carboxyhemoglobin levels collected and analyzed at Chambersburg Hospital in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania after a 272-minute exposure period, during one work shift on November 5, 2014.      c)  In the Cider Plant - An employee, Cider Maker I, was exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) of 134 parts per million particles of air (ppm), approximately 2.68 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ppm; this is the limit established to prevent CO poisoning.  The exposure level was derived from blood percent carboxyhemoglobin levels collected and analyzed at Chambersburg Hospital in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania after a 246-minute exposure period, during one work shift on November 5, 2014.      No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

May 1, 2015

Abate by

Jun 5, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0560

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):  a)  In the Cider Plant - The employer did not implement feasible administrative and engineering controls to ensure that concentration levels of carbon monoxide (CO) gas did not exceed the 50 parts per million particles of air Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for an employee, the Apple Inspector, exposed to an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) of 248 parts per million particles of air (ppm), approximately 4.97 times the PEL, during one 327-minute work shift on November 5, 2014.    b)  In the Cider Plant - The employer did not implement feasible administrative and engineering controls to ensure that concentration levels of carbon monoxide (CO) gas did not exceed the 50 parts per million particles of air Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for an employee, Cider Maker, exposed to an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) of 142 parts per million particles of air (ppm), approximately 2.83 times the PEL, during one 272-minute work shift on November 5, 2014.    c)  In the Cider Plant - The employer did not implement feasible administrative and engineering controls to ensure that concentration levels of carbon monoxide (CO) gas did not exceed the 50 parts per million particles of air Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for an employee, Cider Maker I, exposed to an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) of 134 parts per million particles of air (ppm), approximately 2.68 times the PEL, during one 246-minute work shift on November 5, 2014.    Among other feasible means of abatement the employer could install and keep clear carbon monoxide alarms to alert employees in the cider plant and warehouse to excessive carbon monoxide concentrations, add a carbon monoxide monitor, data logger, and alarm to the ventilation system controller to monitor the carbon monoxide concentrations circulated throughout the cider plant and warehouse, add a ventilation system component to incorporate outside make up air [carbon monoxide-free] into the cider plants closed atmosphere, and/or use only electric-powered powered industrial trucks in the limited ventilation of the cider plant and warehouse atmosphere.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

May 1, 2015

Abate by

Jun 5, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0560

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)  Throughout the Facility - On or about November 5, 2014, the employer had not provided employees with effective information and training on the physical and health hazards, including signs and symptoms of overexposure, associated with the hazardous chemicals to which they were exposed, including but not limited to sodium hypochlorite (Bleach) and liquid propane gas (LPG); and to which they were overexposed such as carbon monoxide (CO) at the time of their initial assignment to the position.    b)  Throughout the Facility - On or about November 5, 2014, the employer had not conducted training on the revised HCS 2012 shipping container labels, the workplace labeling system, the hazard pictograms, and safety data sheet organization for the workplace hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to carbon monoxide (CO), sodium hypochlorite (Bleach) and liquid propane gas (LPG), so that the employees could find and apply the hazard information.    Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.