OSHA Inspection: BLANCO CREEK FARMS, LLC

Issued

2016-05-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-06-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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 from the incompatible storage and potential mixing of chemicals in the workplace:  Warehouse, Chemical Storage Cage: On or about February 1, 2016 employee(s) were exposed to chemical hazards from potential mixing of incompatible chemicals, including oxidizers contained in Caustic Cleaner FP (Sodium Hydroxide) with acids contained in High Acid Cleaner FP (Phosphoric Acid) and quaternary ammonium chlorides contained in Sani-T-10 Plus, which were stored and transferred next to each other.

Issued

2016-05-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-06-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2940.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:  a) Chemical cage area: On or about February 16, 2016, and times prior thereto, employee(s) who clean and drain dishcharge tanks which contain production line waste water with chlorine dioxide mixtures, sodium hypochlorite mixtures, and chemical detergents were exposed to chemical hazards and were not provided with or required to use adequate eye or face protection by the employer.  b) Production Line: On or about February 16, 2016, and times prior thereto, employee(s) who disinfect and handle produce at or near operational wash tanks containing chlorine dioxide and chlorinated water (sodium hypochlorite) mixtures were exposed to chemical hazards and were not provided with or required to use adequate eye or face protection by the employer.

Issued

2016-05-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-06-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $1260.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement 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 does not present a health hazard to the user:  Production Line: On February 1, 2016, and times prior thereto, the employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory program, such as but not limited to the information contained in Appendix D, medical evaluations, or maintenance of respirators for employees who voluntary wear 3M half-mask tight fitting respirators and MSA half-mask tight fitting respirators exposing employees to undue physiological burden.

Issued

2016-05-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-06-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $1680.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(ii): The unused keyway(s) of projecting shaft end(s) were not filled up or covered:  (a) Production Line, Green bean: On or about February 1, 2016, and times prior there to, employee(s) who work at a Green bean production line station (Manufacturer: Hughes International Company, Inc.) were exposed to caught-in hazards from an unguarded keyway attached to the machine's conveyor system.  (b) Production Line, Fortress Metal Detector: On or about February 1, 2016, and times prior there to, employee(s) who operate a Fortress Technologies Metal Detection System (Model: SC-CONV-180SSHD14BSA, SN: CVF-3487), were exposed to caught-in hazards from an unguarded keyway attached to the machine's conveyor system.

Issued

2016-05-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-06-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2940.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  Production Line Area: On or about February 16, 2016, and times prior thereto, employee(s) who were exposed to chemical hazards from chemicals used in their work areas, such as but not limited to Chlorine Dioxide Sanitation Water,  Chlorinated Sanitation Water (Sodium Hypochlorite), and Sani-T-10 Plus (Quaternary Ammonium Chlorides) were not informed by the company of the associated hazards of these chemicals, symptoms of exposure, and precautionary measures.

Issued

2016-05-27 00:00:00

Abate by

2016-06-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1000.00 · Current $600.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.32(a)(3): The employer did not certify an OSHA 300A Form or equivalent.  On or about February 1, 2016, OSHA Form 300A for Calendar Year 2015 was not certified by a company executive of Blanco Creek Farms, LLC and the summary reflects injuries/illnesses which occurred at the facility during that year.