OSHA Inspection: DUTCH-AMERICAN FOODS, INC.

Issued

Apr 8, 2020

Abate by

Oct 1, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,639 · Current $4,820 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of Total Dust (particulates, not otherwise classified) listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 15 milligrams per meter cubed.      (a)    On December 18, 2019, an employee [blender operator, Room 207] was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 22.04 milligrams per meter (mg/m3) cubed for Total Dust, approximately 1.47 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3). The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 460 minute sampling period with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 20 minutes.  The limit is established to prevent employees from suffering adverse health effects such as target organ damage to the eyes, skin or respiratory system.

Issued

Apr 8, 2020

Abate by

Oct 1, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):  a. On or about December 18, 2019, in the blending room(s), employees were required to add products to a ribbon blender and conduct cleaning operations.  Employees required to perform blending operations were exposed to Total Dust at a Time Weighted Average of 22.04 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3), approximately 1.47 times the OSHA PEL of 15 milligrams per meter cubed(mg/m3).     In the blending room(s), general methods of control applicable in these circumstances include, but are not limited to the following:   1.  Creating and implementing a more rigorous dust collection system maintenance program to ensure the dust collection system is working as designed.  2.  Redesign existing dust collection system to obtain better capture rate of fugitive dust when loading product into the ribbon blender.  This could include improved bag unloading process, and/or redesigned ribbon blender lid(s) or relocation of vent on blender unit(s).    3.  Implement additional engineering controls such as but not limited to installation of additional dust collection system(s).     4. Prohibit cleanup of dust particles by use of compressed air.  5. Administratively limit the amount of time a worker is required to perform blending operations.