OSHA Inspection: SPICE CHAIN CORPORATION

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

Jun 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,747 · Current $3,243 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:    a) Spice Chain Corporation/New Brunswick, NJ - Throughout the facility including Milling Area - Dust Collection System containing Class II combustible spice dust:  On or about October 24, 2019 employees were exposed to the hazard of fire and/or explosion resulting from the ignition of Class II, explosive dusts in and around process equipment such as but not limited to the milling machine(s) and dust collection system(s) because the equipment was not adequately inspected, cleaned, serviced and maintained.

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

Jun 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,747 · Current $3,243 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101M104

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(a)(2): Exit routes were not arranged so that employees did not have to travel toward a high hazard area, nor was the path of travel effectively shielded from the high hazard area by suitable partitions or other physical barriers:    Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ - Packaging area/Emergency exit located in front by the dust collector with bags:   On or about October 24, 2019 the employer failed to arrange exit routes so that the employees did not have to travel toward high hazard area in case of an emergency such as fire. The dust generated in the facility is combustible and had explosion severities ranging from 1.37 and 2.24, with Kst values between 15.73 and 24.18. The emergency exit door was located next to the dust collector/filtration system, exposing employees to fire hazards.    WRITTEN ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 29 CFR 1903.19

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

Jun 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,747 · Current $4,890 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.38(c)(3): The emergency action plan did not include the procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate.    a) Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ- Throughout the facility:   On or about October 24,2019 the employer did not ensure that the facility's emergency action plan included specific procedures and instructions to be followed by the emergency response team during an emergency such as fire. The emergency response team is required to stay behind and shut down any equipment that might be dangerous if left operative, such as but not limited to dust collectors thus, exposing them to fire hazards.

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

May 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,747 · Current $4,890 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.39(c)(1): A fire prevention plan was not developed, which was to include, a list of all major fire hazards, proper handling and storage procedures for hazardous materials, potential ignition sources and their control, and the type of fire protection equipment necessary to control each major hazard:     a) Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ- Throughout the facility:  On or about October 24, 2019 the employer did not develop fire prevention plan to ensure that employees and the facility's emergency response team are aware of the hazards present during an emergency such as fire. The emergency response team is required to stay behind and shut down any equipment that might be dangerous if left operative, such as but not limited to dust collectors thus, exposing them to combustible dust and fire hazards.

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

May 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,446 · Current $7,559 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(i): The employer did not establish, within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared:    a) Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ - Milling Area and Blending Area:   On or about October 24, 2019 the employer did not provide baseline audiograms to employees working in production areas, where hearing protection was required and were noise levels exceeded OSHA Action Level of 83.4 dBA for an extended 10 hour work shift. Employees were exposed to continuous noise levels of 90.7 dBA (Mill #1 operator), 92.6 dBA (Mill #1 filler), 94.4 dBA (Mill/granulation operator),  87.6 dBA (S/M blender operator), and 91.6 dBA (Mill #4 operator), during 10 hour work shift. These levels exceeded OSHA Action Level of 83.4 dBA for an extended 10 hour work shift. Sampling time was 594 minutes, 594 minutes, 593 minutes, 593 minutes, and 598 minutes  respectively. Exposing them to permanent hearing loss.    NOTE: The action level of 85 dBA was adjusted based on the 10 hour work period to 83.4 dBA.

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  a) Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ - Milling Area and Blending Area:  On or about October 24, 2019 the employer did not provide annual audiograms to employees working in production areas where hearing protection was required and were noise levels exceeded OSHA Action Level of 83.4 dBA for an extended 10 hour work shift. Employees were exposed to continuous noise levels of 90.7 dBA (Mill #1 operator), 92.6 dBA (Mill #1 filler), 94.4 dBA (Mill/granulation operator),  87.6 dBA (S/M blender operator), and 91.6 dBA (Mill #4 operator), during 10 hour work shift. These levels exceeded OSHA Action Level of 83.4 dBA for an extended 10 hour work shift. Sampling time was 594 minutes, 594 minutes, 593 minutes, 593 minutes, and 598 minutes  respectively. Exposing them to permanent hearing loss.  NOTE: The action level of 85 dBA was adjusted based on the 10 hour work period to 83.4 dBA.

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

May 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(7)(i): Each employee's annual audiogram was not compared to that employee's baseline audiogram to determine if the audiogram is valid and if a standard threshold shift as defined in 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(10) has occurred:  a) Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ - Milling Area and Blending Area:  On or about October 24, 2019 the employer did not ensure that each employee's annual audiogram was compared to that employee's baseline audiogram. Employees were working in production areas where hearing protection was required and where noise levels exceeded OSHA Action Level of 83.4 dBA for an extended 10 hour work shift. Employees were exposed to continuous noise levels of 90.7 dBA (Mill #1 operator), 92.6 dBA (Mill #1 filler), 94.4 dBA (Mill/granulation operator),  87.6 dBA (S/M blender operator), and 91.6 dBA (Mill #4 operator), during 10 hour work shift. These levels exceeded OSHA Action Level of 83.4 dBA for an extended 10 hour work shift. Sampling time was 594 minutes, 594 minutes, 593 minutes, 593 minutes, and 598 minutes  respectively. Exposing them to permanent hearing loss.  NOTE: The action level of 85 dBA was adjusted based on the 10 hour work period to 83.4 dBA.

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

May 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(2): The training program was not repeated annually for each employee included in the hearing conservation program. Information in the training program was not updated to be consistent with changes in protective equipment and work processes:  a) Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ - Throughout the facility including Milling Area and Blending Area: On or about October 24, 2019 the employer did not provide annual training for employees exposed to high noise levels and those required to use hearing protection. Employees working in the milling and blending areas were exposed to continuous noise levels of 90.7 dBA (Mill #1 operator), 92.6 dBA (Mill #1 filler), 94.4 dBA (Mill/granulation operator),  87.6 dBA (S/M blender operator), and 91.6 dBA (Mill #4 operator), during 10 hour work shift. These levels exceeded OSHA Action Level of 83.4 dBA for an extended 10 hour work shift. Sampling time was 594 minutes, 594 minutes, 593 minutes, 593 minutes, and 598 minutes  respectively. These levels exceeded OSHA Action Level of 83.4 dBA for an extended 10 hour work shift, exposing employees to hearing loss.  NOTE: The action level of 85 dBA was adjusted based on the 10 hour work period to 83.4 dBA.

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

Jun 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,446 · Current $7,589 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment was not used when necessary when a hazard of processes or environment capable of causing injury or impairment of the body through physical contact was encountered:     a) Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ - Throughout the facility including Milling Area and Combustible Dust Collector Area:   On or about October 24, 2019 the employer did not ensure that employees were provided with easily removable flame retardant and non-static-generating clothing in areas where combustible dust was present. Employees grind and blend different spices on daily basis. Dust generated during that process had explosion severities ranging from 1.37 and 2.24, with Kst values between 15.73 and 24.18. Employees were provided with disposable Polypropylene lab coats, which generated static and exposed them to fire hazards.    WRITTEN ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 29 CFR 1903.19

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

May 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,747 · Current $4,890 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.145(c)(3): Safety instruction signs were not used where there was a need for general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measures:    Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ - Throughout the facility:   On or about October 24, 2019 the employer failed to provide warning or safety signs at the entrances and in areas where spices containing explosive dust mixtures were present. Employees were working in area were powdered mixtures of spices were present, which had explosion severities ranging from 1.37 to 2.24 and Kst values ranging from 15.73 to 24.18. Exposing employees to explosion and fire hazards in the following areas:  a) Front section of the Packaging area: Dust collector/Filtration system with bags (Donaldson)  b) Milling Room  c) Blending Room  d) Back section behind the milling room: Large dust collector (Donaldson)    WRITTEN ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 29 CFR 1903.19.

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

Jun 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,747 · Current $4,889 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(c)(2)(vi)(a): The employer did not provide powered industrial trucks designated as EX for use in an atmosphere in which combustible dust is or may be in suspension continuously, intermittently, or periodically under normal operating conditions, in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures, or where mechanical failure or abnormal operation of machinery or equipment might cause such mixtures to be produced.    a) Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ - Milling Area:   On or about October 24, 2019 the employer did not ensure that forklifts designated as EX were used in an atmosphere in which Class II combustible powder was present. Employees operated powered industrial trucks such as, but not limited to Yale  (SN: A969N01608J, classified as E), and Toyota (SN: 60299, classified as E), etc., in an atmosphere in which Class II combustible powdered spices such as cumin, cinnamon and paprika were used; Exposing employees to explosion and fire hazards.

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

Jun 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,747 · Current $4,889 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c): Electrical equipment in a hazardous (classified) location was not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:     a) Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ - Throughout the Facility:  On or about October 24, 2019 the employer did not ensure that electrical installations including, but not limited to, Industrial Grade (outlet receptacles) used for plugging in extension cords, pedestal fans, and balances, were not intrinsically safe, explosion proof, approved for Class II, Division 2 locations. Dusts present in the area were classified as Class II with explosion severities ranging from 1.37 to 2.24 and Kst values ranging from 15.73  to 24.18; Exposing employees to explosion and fire hazards in the following areas:    a) Milling Area  b) Large Dust Collector Area:     WRITTEN ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 29 CFR 1903.19.

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

Jun 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(d): Where flammable materials were present only occasionally, such as but not limited to flammable gases, vapors, or liquids; combustible dust; and ignitable fibers or flyings, electrical equipment capable of igniting them were used and measures were not taken to prevent hazardous conditions from developing:      a) Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ - Throughout the facility including the Milling Area:  On or about October 24, 2019 the employer did not ensure that equipment such as pedestal fan and scissor lift used in Class II explosive dusts, were intrinsically safe, approved for use in a Class II, Division 2 location. Dusts present in the area were classified as Class II with explosion severities ranging from 1.37 to 2.24 and Kst values ranging from 15.73  to 24.18;  Exposing employees to explosion and fire hazards.      WRITTEN ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 29 CFR 1903.19.

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

Jun 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,747 · Current $4,920 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training were met:     a) Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ - Throughout the facility including but not limited to the Milling Area, Blending Area, and Packaging Area:   On or about October 24, 2019 the employer did not develop a written hazard communication program to include information and training on hazardous materials present on site such as corrosive chemicals and combustible dust. Employees were working with spices, such as  but not limited to powdered mixtures containing cumin, cinnamon, sugar, paprika, and used chemicals such as inkjet 4052BK and corrosives including Clorox Germicidal Bleach. Dusts collected from the dust collector containing spices, had explosion severities ranging from 1.37 to 2.24 and Kst values ranging from 15.73 to 24.18. Employees working throughout the facility were exposed to chemicals hazards and combustible dust hazards.      WRITTEN ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 29 CFR 1903.19.

Issued

Apr 22, 2020

Abate by

Jun 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): The employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about was introduced into their work area. Information and training was not designed to cover categories of hazards or specific chemicals:    a) Spice Chain Corporation/East Brunswick, NJ - Throughout the facility including the Milling Area, Blending Area, and Packaging Area:   On or about October 24, 2019 the employer did not provide effective information and training pertaining to chemical and physical hazards of corrosive chemicals and combustible dust powders used during manufacturing process. Employees were working with spices, such as  but not limited to powdered mixtures containing cumin, cinnamon, sugar, paprika, and used chemicals such as inkjet 4052BK and corrosives including Clorox Germicidal Bleach. Dusts collected from the dust collector containing spices, had explosion severities ranging from 1.37 to 2.24 and Kst values ranging from 15.73 to 24.18.  Employees working throughout the facility were exposed to chemicals hazards and combustible dust hazards.      WRITTEN ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 29 CFR 1903.19.