OSHA Inspection: QVEST SANITATION LLC

Issued

Apr 18, 2019

Abate by

Apr 24, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,115 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that was 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level was protected from falling by one or more of the following:  Guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems:    On or about February 7, 2019, at 7S Packing, kill floor area, an employee was cleaning the platform from an elevated surface and was not wearing fall protection. Employee exposed to a fall hazard of approximately eight feet to the lower level.

Issued

Apr 18, 2019

Abate by

May 8, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,115 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(2)(i): All exposed part(s) of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform were not protected by stationary casing(s) enclosing shafting completely or by trough(s) enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting:    On or about February 7, 2019, 7S Packing, processing floor area, there were numerous conveyors with unguarded rotating shafts. Employees were cleaning the conveyors while they were turning. Employee(s) were exposed to the hazard of being caught-in rotating shafts. There were unguarded rotating shafts on conveyors such as, but not limited to:     1. PC5 conveyor belt, the rotating shaft on the conveyor belt was not guarded.   2. Hind quarter table conveyor belt, the rotating shaft on the conveyor belt was not guarded.

Issued

Apr 18, 2019

Abate by

May 8, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(c)(4)(i): Unguarded projecting shaft end(s) did not present a smooth edge and end and projected more than one half the diameter of the shaft:  On or about February 7, 2019, in the processing area, there were numerous conveyors with protruding rotating shafts. Employees were cleaning the conveyors while they were running. Employee(s) were exposed to the hazard of being caught-in protruding shafts. Protruding shafts were on conveyors such as but not limited to:   1. Hind quarter table conveyor belt, the protruding shafts were not guarded.  2. PC8 conveyor, protruding shafts were not guarded. 3. Blue conveyor machine, protruding shafts were not guarded.

Issued

Apr 18, 2019

Abate by

Apr 24, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,115 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven -7 feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:    a) On or about February 7, 2019, 7S Packing, kill floor area, the inedible gut auger machine, the chain and sprocket were not guarded. The employees were cleaning this when it was unguarded and rotating. Employee(s) were exposed to a caught-in hazard.    b) On about February 7, 2019, processing floor area, at the hind quarter conveyor belt, sprockets rollers were not guarded. The employees were cleaning the conveyor when the conveyor was rotating and not guarded. Employee(s) were exposed to a caught-in hazard.    c) On about February 7, 2019, processing floor area, at the blue conveyor belt, sprockets rollers were not guarded. The employees were cleaning the conveyor when the conveyor was rotating and not guarded. Employee(s) were exposed to a caught-in hazard.

Issued

Apr 18, 2019

Abate by

Apr 24, 2019

Penalty

Initial $13,639 · Current $15,000

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:    a) On or about February 7, 2019, 7S Packing, kill floor area, employees were cleaning an unguarded rotating inedible gut auger. There was no guard on the auger and during the cleaning process the auger was rotating. Employee(s) were exposed to the hazard of getting caught-in the rotating auger.     b) On or about February 7, 2019, 7S Packing, processing floor area, employees were cleaning the conveyors while they were operational. The in-going nip points on the conveyors were not guarded. Employee(s) were exposed to the hazard of getting caught-in the in-going nip points. Conveyors such as but not limited to:     1. PC4 conveyor belts the in-going nip points were not guarded.   2. Hind Quarter conveyor the in-going nip points were not guarded.  3. Blue conveyor the in-going nip points were not guarded.     QVest Sanitation LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.212 (a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1088351, citation number 1 item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on February 12, 2016, with respect to a workplace located at 6301 E Stassney Lane, Austin TX, 78744.