OSHA Inspection: DEMAIZ TORTILLERIA LLC

Issued

2015-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-07-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2508.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: 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 injury from fire and explosion due to the location of unprotected natural gas flexible pipeline:    On December 29, 2014, and times prior thereto, at this establishment on the production floor, natural gas pipe supplied a boiler corn cooker, was located at the concrete floor where it was not protected from physical damage from employee traffic and this exposes employees to fire and explosion hazards.

Issued

2015-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-06-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $1000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(5): Fan blade guard(s) were not provided where the periphery of the blades was less than seven feet from the floor or working level:    On December 29, 2014, and times prior thereto, in the chip making room, the fan used for ventilation was unguarded.

Issued

2015-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-07-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(3): Vertical or inclined shafting seven -7 feet or less from floor or working platform was not enclosed with stationary casing(s):     On December 29, 2015, and times prior thereto, on the production floor, the mill machine shaft did not have a protective guard as employees conducted maiz milling tasks.

Issued

2015-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-07-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1500.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):    On December 29, 2015, and times prior thereto, on the production floor, employees operated machines in the production of tortillas and chips and the pulley on the machines did not have protective guards such as but not limited to:         a.  The Maiz Rinsing Machine.        b.  The Mill Machine.

Issued

2015-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-07-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(1)(i): Horizontal belts which had both runs seven -7 feet or less from the floor level were not guarded with a guard that extended to at least fifteen inches above the belt:       On December 29, 2015, and times prior thereto, on  the production floor, employees operated machines in the production of tortillas and chips and the belts were not guarded on machines such as but not limited to the:      a.  The Maiz Rinsing Machine.      b.  The Mill Machine.

Issued

2015-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-07-09 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $1000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven (7) feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:    On December 29, 2014, and times prior thereto, on the production floor at this establishment, the chains and sprockets to the Tortilla making machines did not have protective guards.

Issued

2015-06-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $1800.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:    On December 29, 2014, and times prior thereto, on the production floor at this establishment, no strain relief was provided to the Maiz mixture machine and the Maiz rinsing machine to stop pull from being transmitted to joints and or terminal screws, prior to being used for maiz productivity.

Issued

2015-06-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-06-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $700.00 · Current $700.00

General-duty citation text

1904.4(a): The employer did not record each work-related fatality, injury or illness case that resulted in the general recording criteria on the OSHA Form 300 or equivalent.   Located at the Demaiz Tortilleria, LLC, Pharr, Texas on December 29, 2014, the employer did not record the following workplace injury on the OSHA 300 Log for calendar year 2014.  On or about October of 2014, Rogelio Alvarez, an employee sustained a lower back, straining injury, due to lifting a  conventional ice chest containing tortillas.  The employee was prescribed pain medication by a physician and lost 3 working days.