OSHA Inspection: PHELPS INDUSTRIES, LLC

Issued

Feb 1, 2016

Abate by

Feb 19, 2016

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i):     Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:    An energy control procedure was not documented for the Reiser RotoClaw II Frozen Meat Breaker machine located in processing room #1. Maintenance employees performing servicing and maintenance work and sanitation employees who clean the machine were exposed to the hazards associated with the unexpected start-up and energizing of the machine including, but not limited to, severe lacerations and amputations.    Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Feb 1, 2016

Abate by

Feb 19, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(B):     Affected employees were not instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure:    Employees who operated the Reiser RotoClaw II Frozen Meat Breaker machines located in processing rooms #1 and #2 were not instructed in the purpose and use of the associated energy control procedure for the machines, exposing them to the hazards associated with the unexpected start-up and energizing of the machine including, but not limited to, severe lacerations and amputations.    Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Feb 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1):     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:    Employees who operated the Reiser RotoClaw II Frozen Meat Breaker machine located in processing room #1 were exposed to severe lacerations and amputations from contact with the point of operation. Employees loaded frozen blocks of meat into the machine from an elevated position in lieu of using the pneumatic powered loading tray in the method intended by the manufacturer; the elevated position of the employee placed the point of operation within reach.    There is no abatement certification or documentation required for this item.

Issued

Feb 1, 2016

Abate by

Feb 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.31(a):     Recordable injuries and illnesses of all employees on your payroll, whether they are labor, executive, hourly, salary, part time, seasonal, migrant workers, and those employees who are not on your payroll, but supervised by you on a day-to-day basis were not recorded on the OSHA 300 Log:    On or about October 8th, 2015, an employee working in processing room #1 suffered an amputation of the right hand little (i.e. pinky) finger and additional injuries to the right hand ring finger while loading frozen blocks of meat into a Reiser Rotoclaw II Frozen Meat Breaker machine. This case met the recording criteria for inclusion on the 2015 OSHA 300 log; the employer failed to record this case on the OSHA 300 log due to its habit of omitting those injuries that occur to temporary workers provided to work at Phelps Industries, LLC by a temporary staffing agency.    Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).