OSHA Inspection: YOAKUM PACKING CO.

Issued

Feb 9, 2016

Abate by

Mar 14, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:   At this establishment, the employer did not institute a continuing, effective Hearing Conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) for the employees (Washer Operator) exposed to noise equaling or exceeding an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels (dBA):   An employee who performed washing and cleaning operations of the smoking meat equipment inside of the washer room, was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 78 % of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted-average sound level of 85 dBA (80 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 78 % exposure is approximately 88.20 dBA. This exposure is 1.56 times the Action Level of 85 dBA (85 dBA for 8 hours is 50% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on November 24th, 2015 for 480 minutes.

Issued

Feb 9, 2016

Abate by

Mar 14, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:   At this establishment, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program under OSHA Requirements of the Hearing Conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) for the employees (Washer Operators) exposed to noise equaled or exceeded an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels (dBA):   An employee who performed washing and cleaning operations of the smoking meat equipment inside of the washer room, was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 78 % of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted-average sound level of 85 dBA (80 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 78 % exposure is approximately 88.20 dBA. This exposure is 1.56 times the Action Level of 85 dBA (85 dBA for 8 hours is 50% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on November 24th, 2015 for 480 minutes.

Issued

Feb 9, 2016

Abate by

Mar 14, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(i): The employer did not establish, within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared:   At this establishment, the employees (Washer Operators) employed more than 6 months were not provided with baseline audiograms, as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n). The Employees noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels (dBA):  An employee who performed washing and cleaning operations of the smoking meat equipment inside of the washer room, was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 78 % of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted-average sound level of 85 dBA (80 dBA threshold). The equivalent noise level of this 78 % exposure is approximately 88.20 dBA. This exposure is 1.56 times the Action Level of 85 dBA (85 dBA for 8 hours is 50% of the allowable dose). The noise sampling was conducted on November 24th, 2015 for 480 minutes.

Issued

Feb 9, 2016

Abate by

Mar 7, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:   At this establishment, the employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator to all Maintenance Technicians who was maintaining the Anhydrous Ammonia Refrigeration System and draining compressor lubrication oil transferred overtime to Anhydrous Ammonia Refrigeration System were required to wear a Full Face Air-purifying Respirator (Scott AV-2000) with Ammonia/Methylamine cartridges (Scott 7422-GA1) against any possible ammonia release.   An employee (Maintenance Technician) who was maintaining the Anhydrous Ammonia Refrigeration System did not have his medical evaluation to determine his ability to use a respirator, as a part of his occupational activities and exposure to Anhydrous Ammonia.

Issued

Feb 9, 2016

Abate by

Mar 7, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:   At this establishment, the employer did not provide annually re-training for all employees required to wear a respirator:  a) An employee (Maintenance Technician) who was maintaining the Anhydrous Ammonia Refrigeration System did not receive his Respiratory Protection annually re-training for the last 12 years.  b) An employee (Maintenance Helper) who was maintaining the Anhydrous Ammonia Refrigeration System, has not demonstrate knowledge of such as, but not limited to, how to inspect, check the seals of the respirator and what is the procedures for maintenance, cleaning and proper storage of the respirators.

Issued

Feb 9, 2016

Abate by

Feb 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification which included the requirements as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2):   At this establishment, and times prior thereto, employees (Maintenance Technicians, Meat Packing Operators and Washer Operators) were exposed to hazards such as, but not limited to, hazardous chemicals, water pressure and mechanical hazard, and employer did not verify and evaluated the workplace through a written certificate that a hazard assessment was performed.

Issued

Feb 9, 2016

Abate by

Mar 7, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(g)(1): An educational program was not provided for all employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting:    On or about November 24th, 2015, and times prior thereto, at this establishment, the employer did not provide training for designated and authorized employees to familiarize them with the general principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards involved with incipient stage fire fighting.