OSHA Inspection: SENECA FOODS CORPORATION

Issued

Dec 19, 2019

Abate by

Jun 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,472 · Current $9,472

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(1)(i): (1) Unprotected sides and edges.  (i) Except as provided elsewhere in this section, the employer must ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the following:  guardrail systems, safety net systems or personal fall protection systems.     Employees utilizing the maintenance platforms for the dirt reel on the South line of outdoor receiving were not protected from falls when the east side of the maintenance platform did not present adequate fall protection.

Issued

Dec 19, 2019

Abate by

Jun 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(iv): (iv) Each employee is protected from falling into a ladderway floor hole or ladderway platform hole by a guardrail system and toeboards erected on all exposed sides, except at the entrance to the hole, where a self-closing gate or an offset must be used.    a) Employees utilizing the maintenance platforms on the South outdoor receiving lines were not protected from falls through the ladderway by a self-closing gate or offset.      b) Employees utilizing the maintenance platforms on the middle outdoor receiving lines were not protected from falls through the ladderway by a self-closing gate or offset.      c) Employees utilizing the maintenance platforms on the North outdoor receiving lines were not protected from falls through the ladderway by a self-closing gate or offset.    d) Employees accessing the platform for the Reclaim Snipper in outdoor receiving were not protected from falls through the ladderway by a self-closing gate or offset.    e) Employees were exposed to fall hazards when the opening of the ladderways of the platforms in the Secondary Grading/Storage area of the Snipping Room were not equipped with a self-closing gate or offset.    f) Employees were exposed to fall hazards when the opening of the ladderways of the platform for whole bean storage tank in the Secondary Grading/Storage area of the Snipping Room was not equipped with a self-closing gate or offset.    g) Employees were exposed to fall hazards when the opening of the ladderways of the platforms for the Slicers in the Final Inspection area were not equipped with a self-closing gate or offset.    h) Employees were exposed to fall hazards when the opening of the ladderways of the maintenance platforms in the palletizing area of the warehouse were not equipped with a self-closing gate or offset.

Issued

Dec 19, 2019

Abate by

Jun 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,260 · Current $11,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): Types of guarding. One or more methods of machine guarding shall be 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. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices,electronic safety devices, etc.    a) Employees were exposed to ingoing nip points from the tail pulley of the main conveyor running to indoor processing.     b) Employees were exposed to an ingoing nip point from the drive pulley on the waste conveyor for the air cleaner on the North line.    c) Employees were exposed to entanglement hazards when the opening for the 16" waste auger between the Mid and North Cluster Cutter waste belts did not adequately protect employees from contacting the auger.     d) Employees were exposed to ingoing nip points from the drive pulley of the conveyors taking green beans to the washers on the South, Mid and North lines.     e) Employees were exposed to ingoing nip points from the tail pulley of the conveyors taking green beans to the washers on the South, Mid and North lines.     f) Employees of Seneca Foods Corporation were exposed to the point of operation of the South, Mid and North line Cluster Cutters when the guarding for the cutters did not prevent employees from reaching the cutting heads.    g) Employees were exposed to machine hazards from moving parts when the ingoing can grab for the Angelus Canner Line #1 was left unguarded.    h) Employees were exposed to ingoing nip points on the tail pulley in the Good Return Transfer Conveyor #5.    i) Employees were exposed to ingoing nip points on the tail pulley in the conveyor taking beans from the optical review to the sorting area.    j) Employees were exposed to ingoing nip points on the tail pulley in the conveyor for Final Inspection Line #5.    k) Employees were exposed to ingoing nip points on the tail pulley in the conveyor for French Cut Green Beans in the Final Inspection Area.