OSHA Inspection: FITCHBURG FARMS LLC

Issued

Feb 3, 2016

Abate by

Feb 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,440 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Every open-sided floor or platform 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level was not guarded by a standard railing (or the equivalent as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section) on all open sides:    On or about September 1, 2015, greenhouse employees were working on the monorail platform , exposing themselves to fall hazards.

Issued

Feb 3, 2016

Abate by

Mar 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,040 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i):  Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to this section when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:    On or about September 1, 2015, employee(s) who voluntarily wore elastomeric half mask respirators while mixing fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides had not been provided with information on respirators as presented in Appendix D.  The list of chemicals mixed includes, but is not limited to, Syngenta Avid 0.15EC, Scotts Benefit 60 WP, and Cleary 3336 F.

Issued

Feb 3, 2016

Abate by

Mar 24, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer had not established and implemented those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use did not present a health hazard to the user:  On or about September 1, 2015, employee(s) were wearing elastomeric half-mask respirators with organic vapor cartridges while mixing fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.  The employee(s) had not been medically evaluated to wear the respirator, and had not been trained on proper maintenance and storage procedures for the respirator.

Issued

Feb 3, 2016

Abate by

Mar 24, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134 (d)(1)(iii):  The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminants chemical state and physical form:    On or about September 1, 2015, the employer had not performed an evaluation of respiratory hazards in the workplace such as, but not limited to, Syngenta Avid 0.15EC, Scotts Benefit 60 WP, and Cleary 3336 F.

Issued

Feb 3, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $780 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer had not developed, implemented, and maintained at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met:    On or about September 1, 2015, the employer had not developed and implemented a written hazard communication program for chemicals such as, but not limited to, Syngenta Avid 0.15EC, Scotts Benefit 60 WP, and Cleary 3336 F, and motor oil.

Issued

Feb 3, 2016

Abate by

Feb 25, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8): The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and shall ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s):  On or about September 1, 2015, the employer was not maintaining copies of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for hazardous chemicals used by employees including, but not limited to, Syngenta Avid 0.15EC, Scotts Benefit 60 WP, Cleary 3336 F, and motor oil.

Issued

Feb 3, 2016

Abate by

Feb 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.36(d)(1): Employees were not able to open an exit route door from the inside at all times without keys, tools, or special knowledge:  On or about September 1, 2015, the exit door located on the northeast corner of the greenhouse building was locked from the outside