OSHA Inspection: VAL VERDE VEGETABLE CO., INC.

Issued

Feb 13, 2018

Penalty

Initial $4,240 · Current $2,544 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0070X100

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.101(b): The in-plant handling, storage, and utilization of all compressed gases in cylinders, portable tanks, rail tank cars, or motor vehicle cargo tanks were not in accordance with Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet P-1-1965, which is incorporated by reference as specified in CFR 1910.6:   At this vegetables processing and packing facility, employees utilized compressed oxygen and fuel gas cylinders for welding and torching, and did not secure cylinders after use. This exposed employees to struck-by and fire hazards.

Issued

Feb 13, 2018

Abate by

Feb 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0070X100

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(iii): Oxygen cylinders in storage were not 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:   At this vegetables processing and packing facility, employees utilized compressed oxygen and fuel gas cylinders for welding and torching, and failed to separate cylinders after use. This exposed employees to struck-by and fire hazards.

Issued

Feb 13, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $4,989 · Current $2,993 Reduced

Hazardous substances 00200515147015602260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:   At this vegetables processing and packing facility, employees handle and work with hazardous and corrosive chemicals, without an adequate eye wash units:  a. Plumbed Eye wash unit (Brand: Bradley), located by electric fork lift batteries charging station had uneven pressure, and;  b. Plumbed Eye wash unit (Brand: Bradley), located by corrosive chemicals storage area had uneven pressure.

Issued

Feb 13, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $4,989 · Current $2,993 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.215(b)(9): The distance between the abrasive wheel periphery(s) and the adjustable tongue or the end of the safety guard peripheral member at the top exceeded one fourth inch:   At this vegetables processing and packing facility, employees used an abrasive wheel bench grinder with a tongue guard that was not adjusted properly.

Issued

Feb 13, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.243(c)(1): Abrasive wheel(s) were used on portable grinder(s) which were not provided with safety guard(s) meeting the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.243(c)(1) through (c)(4)(a):   At this vegetables processing and packing facility, employees used an unguarded portable grinder. This exposed employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Feb 13, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $4,989 · Current $2,993 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(i): Unused openings in boxes, raceways, auxiliary gutters, cabinets, equipment cases, or housings were not effectively closed to afford protection substantially equivalent to the wall of the equipment:   At this vegetables processing and packing facility, employees operated switchboard panels which had missing filler plates, such as, but not limited to the:  a) Electrical 220 Volt panel (Organic production line #3);  b) Electrical 220 Volt panel (West warehouse); and,  c) Electrical 220 Volt panel (Cold room #4).

Issued

Feb 13, 2018

Abate by

Mar 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(ii): Flexible cords were not used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap:   At this vegetables processing and packing facility, employees used equipment that had damaged and spliced flexible cord that affected the safe operation of the equipment.

Issued

Feb 13, 2018

Abate by

Feb 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.40(a): The employer did not provide an authorized government representative the records within the four business hours:   The employer, Val Verde Vegetable Co., Inc., failed to provide copies of the injury and illness records (OSHA Forms 300 and 300-A) for calendar year 2017 within the four business hours.

Issued

Feb 13, 2018

Abate by

Feb 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 vegetables processing and packing facility, employees were exposed to hazards such as, but not limited to, struck-by, caught-in/between, hazardous energies, chemical burns and corrosive chemicals and materials. The employer did not verify and evaluated the workplace through a written certificate that a hazard assessment was performed.

Issued

Feb 13, 2018

Abate by

Feb 26, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7): Industrial trucks were not examined before being placed in service:   At this vegetables processing and packing facility, employees utilized powered industrial trucks to load/unload trucks and handle produce, and did not conduct a daily inspection of the powered industrial trucks.

Issued

Feb 13, 2018

Abate by

Mar 12, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 00200070051514701560

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:   At this vegetables processing and packing facility, employees were not train on hazardous chemicals and materials, that  were used for processing and packing vegetable products, welding, repairing, grinding, scarfing, spraying, painting, lubricating and cleaning the production lines work areas.