OSHA Inspection: ALL AMERICAN PET PROTEINS, LLC

Issued

Mar 2, 2016

Abate by

Mar 22, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(c)(1): Employer did not develop a written plan of action regarding the implementation of the employee participation required:  (a) All American Pet Proteins, 259 30th Street, Greeley, CO 80631:  On and before September 2, 2015 the employer did not develop a written plan of action regarding the implementation of required employee participation. All American Pet Proteins utilized an ammonia refrigeration system that contained 12,000 pounds of ammonia.  The refrigeration system contained 6 plate freezer tables on the production floor whereby anhydrous ammonia was used to cool the freezer plates to subfreezing temperatures.  There were no written plans that included employee participation for process safety management.   This condition exposed employees to ammonia hazards that included toxic inhalation hazards, corrosive exposure from skin and eye contact, and explosion hazards.

Issued

Mar 2, 2016

Abate by

Mar 22, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(g)(1)(i): Each employee presently involved in operating a process was not trained in an overview of the process and in the operating procedures as specified in paragraph (f) of this section. The training did not include emphasis on the specific safety and health hazards, emergency operations including shutdown, and safe work practices applicable to the employee's job tasks:  (a) All American Pet Proteins, 259 30th Street, Greeley, CO 80631:  On and before September 2, 2015 the employer did not ensure that each employee presently involved in operating the plate freezer tables was trained in the operating procedures as specified in paragraph (f) of this section. The training did not include emphasis on the specific safety and health hazards, emergency operations including shutdown, and safe work practices applicable to the employee's job tasks. All American Pet Proteins utilized an ammonia refrigeration system that contained 12,000 pounds of ammonia.  The refrigeration system contained 6 plate freezer tables on the production floor whereby anhydrous ammonia was used to cool the freezer plates to subfreezing temperatures.  This condition exposed employees to ammonia hazards that included toxic inhalation hazards, corrosive exposure from skin and eye contact, and explosion hazards.

Issued

Mar 2, 2016

Abate by

Mar 22, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(3): Training for process maintenance activities. The employer did not train each employee involved in maintaining the on-going integrity of process equipment in an overview of that process and its hazards and in the procedures applicable to the employee's job tasks to assure that the employee could perform the job tasks in a safe manner:  (a) All American Pet Proteins, 259 30th Street, Greeley, CO 80631:  On and before September 2, 2015, the employer did not train the 2nd shift plate freezer maintenance manager involved in maintaining the on-going integrity of the plate freezer equipment to assure that the employee could perform the job tasks in a safe manner.  The employer failed to train the employee about the overview of the process, the process hazards, and the procedures applicable to the employee's job tasks to assure that the employee could perform the job tasks in a safe manner.  All American Pet Proteins utilized an ammonia refrigeration system that contained 12,000 pounds of ammonia.  The refrigeration system contained 6 plate freezer tables on the production floor whereby anhydrous ammonia was used to cool the freezer plates to subfreezing temperatures.  This condition exposed employees to ammonia hazards that included toxic inhalation hazards, corrosive exposure from skin and eye contact, and explosion hazards.

Issued

Mar 2, 2016

Abate by

Mar 22, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(iv): The employer did not document each mechanical integrity inspection and test that was performed on process equipment:  (a) All American Pet Proteins, 259 30th Street, Greeley, CO 80631:  On and before September 2, 2015, the employer did not document each inspection, pressure test, and leak test that was performed on the process equipment during the restart of the plate freezer tables following ammonia release incidents 8/27/15, 9/2/15, and 10/14/15.  All American Pet Proteins utilized an ammonia refrigeration system that contained 12,000 pounds of ammonia.  The refrigeration system contained 6 plate freezer tables on the production floor whereby anhydrous ammonia was used to cool the freezer plates to subfreezing temperatures.  This condition exposed employees to ammonia hazards that included toxic inhalation hazards, corrosive exposure from skin and eye contact, and explosion hazards.

Issued

Mar 2, 2016

Abate by

Mar 22, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(i): First responder awareness level. First responders at the awareness level are individuals who are likely to witness or discover a hazardous substance release and who have been trained to initiate an emergency response sequence by notifying the proper authorities of the release. They would take no further action beyond notifying the authorities of the release. First responders at the awareness level did not have sufficient training or sufficient experience to objectively demonstrate competency in the following areas:  (a) All American Pet Proteins, 259 30th Street, Greeley, CO 80631:  On and before September 2, 2015, the employer did not ensure that employees who evacuated the facility during ammonia releases on 8/27/15, 9/2/15, and 10/14/15 received at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder level and to provide competency in the following areas:      [A] An understanding of what hazardous substances are and the risks associated with them in an incident  [B] An understanding of the potential outcomes associated with an emergency created when hazardous substances are present  [C] The ability to recognize the presence of hazardous substances in an emergency  [D] The ability to identify the hazardous substances, if possible  [E] An understanding of the role of the first responder awareness individual in the employer's emergency response plan including site security and control and the U.S. Department of Transportation's emergency Response Guidebook   [F] The ability to realize the need for additional resources, and to make appropriate notifications to the communication center  All American Pet Proteins utilized an ammonia refrigeration system that contained 12,000 pounds of ammonia.  The refrigeration system contained 6 plate freezer tables on the production floor whereby anhydrous ammonia at subfreezing temperatures flows through hollow openings.  This condition exposed employees to an ammonia hazard to include inhalation and corrosive exposure from skin and eye contact.