OSHA Inspection: SIMMONS FOODS, INC.

Issued

May 2, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(e)(5): The employer did not assure that PHA recommendations were resolved in a timely manner  On or about February 8, 2016 and there prior, the Generic Pressure Vessel, Evaporative Condenser, and the Human Factors: Operators/Process Interface items identified in 2009 and 2014 PHA did not appear on the action register. Therefore, they were never resolved in a timely manner. This condition exposed employees to fire, explosion and or inhalation hazards from ammonia.

Issued

May 2, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(5): Equipment deficiencies. The employer shall correct deficiencies in equipment that are outside acceptable limits (defined by the process safety information in paragraph (d) of this section) before further use or in a safe and timely manner when necessary means are taken to assure safe operation.  On or about February 8, 2016 and there prior, the employer did not implement the following recommendation from the manufacturer:- check and clean suction strainer on compressor #3. The employer did not also implement the following recommendation from the Ammonia Refrigeration Safety Checklist:- nameplate not legible and complete on Heat Exchanger (Brine Mixer/Chiller). This condition exposed employees to fire, explosion and or inhalation hazards from ammonia.

Issued

May 2, 2016

Abate by

May 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $2,550 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(1)(ii): Unused openings in cabinets, boxes, and fittings shall be effectively closed.  1. On or about February 8, 2016 and there prior, two electric cabinets in the maintenance workshop had missing knockouts. This condition exposed employees to electrical hazards.  2. On or about February 8, 2016 and there prior, two junction boxes between door 1 and 2 in the shipping dock had missing knockouts. This condition exposed employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

May 2, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(b)(3)(ii): Boxes shall be closed by suitable covers securely fastened in place. Note to paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section: Underground box covers that weigh over 45.4 kg (100 lbs) meet this requirement.  On or about February 8, 2016 and there prior, a junction box in the refrigeration workshop was covered with a cardboard. This condition exposed employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

May 2, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(ii): Flexible cords may be used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap. Hard-service cord and junior hard-service cord No. 14 and larger may be repaired if spliced so that the splice retains the insulation, outer sheath properties, and usage characteristics of the cord being spliced.  On or about February 8, 2016 and there prior, the flexible cord on a radial saw that was in the red/black tool cabinet in the refrigeration shop was spliced and attached to a different cord. This condition exposed employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

May 2, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,613 · Current $2,168 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(iii): Oxygen cylinders in storage shall be separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), a minimum distance of 20 feet (6.1 m) or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet (1.5 m) high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour.  On or about February 8, 2016 and there prior, oxygen and acetylene cylinders were stored together in the refrigeration and maintenance workshops. This condition exposed employees to fire and explosion hazards.

Issued

May 2, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,168 · Current $1,301 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(i): Portable cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) were not visually inspected before use on any shift for external defects (such as loose parts, deformed and missing pins, or damage to outer jacket or insulation) and for evidence of possible internal damage (such as pinched or crushed outer jacket):  On or about February 8, 2016 and there prior, a Dewalt D28700 chop saw in the maintenance workshop had a frayed and broken cord with exposed life parts that was taped. This condition exposed employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

May 2, 2016

Penalty

Initial $723 · Current $434 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use. [63 FR 33450, June 18, 1998]  On or about February 8, 2016 and there prior, the eyewash in the IF2 room was blocked with 2 large totes of marinated chicken. Employees did not have access to the eyewash in case of an emergency.

Issued

May 2, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $850 · Current $510 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.176(b): Secure storage. Storage of material shall not create a hazard. Bags, containers, bundles, etc., stored in tiers shall be stacked, blocked, interlocked and limited in height so that they are stable and secure against sliding or collapse.  On or about February 8, 2016 and there prior, the employer stacked boxes of products on unstable dented storage racks in the inbox packaging area and the warehouse. This condition exposed employees to struck-by and caught-in or in-between hazards.

Issued

May 2, 2016

Penalty

Initial $723 · Current $434 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(b): Anchoring fixed machinery. Machines designed for a fixed location shall be securely anchored to prevent walking or moving.  On or about February 8, 2016 and there prior, the drill press in the refrigeration shop was not securely bolted to the floor. This condition exposed employees to point of operation and caught-in hazards.

Issued

May 2, 2016

Abate by

May 16, 2016

Penalty

Initial $850 · Current $510 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:  On or about February 8, 2016 and there prior, employees working in the Control Vacuum Packaging (CVP) area did not know the chemical (carbon dioxide) they were working with. This condition exposed employees to chemical hazards.