OSHA Inspection: GUGGISBERG CHEESE, INC.

Issued

May 11, 2020

Penalty

Initial $5,205 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.37(b)(6): Each exit sign must be illuminated to a surface value of at least five foot-candles (54 lux) by a reliable light source and be distinctive in color.   a. On or about March 18, 2020, and at times prior, in the Make Room, the emergency exit sign was not illuminated.  b. On or about March 18, 2020, and at times prior, in the Milk Receiving Entrance, the emergency exit sign was not illuminated.

Issued

May 11, 2020

Abate by

May 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $10,409 · Current $12,145

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The procedures shall clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to the following:  29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B): Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy;   a. On or about March 11, 2020, employees were performing maintenance and service on the CIP line to repair a tri-clover valve with an inadequate energy control procedure, thereby exposing employees to injuries associated with exposure to pneumatic pressure. The hazardous energy control procedure in place for maintenance and servicing on the CIP line did not have specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating/dissipating, and verification of isolation of the equipment's hazardous energy sources such as but not limited to, pneumatic pressure.

Issued

May 11, 2020

Abate by

May 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1) through (d)(6):  a. On or about March 11, 2020, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards during maintenance in the CIP line area while performing maintenance and servicing activities. The employees were removing the tri-clover/tri-flow valve off the CIP line without implementing energy control application steps as the machine was not shutdown [per the 1910.147(d)(2) requirements]. As a result, the machine's electric and pneumatic energy sources were not isolated [per the 1910.147(d)(3) requirements], the stored energy was not controlled by the application of a LOTO device [(d)(4)], the release of stored pressure [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of the pneumatic and electric source isolation [(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.

Issued

May 11, 2020

Abate by

May 29, 2020

Penalty

Initial $8,675 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed.  a. On or about March 18, 2020 and at times prior, periodic inspections of energy control procedures were not conducted at least annually to ensure the procedures were effective to protect employees from machine hazards while performing service and maintenance on equipment.

Issued

May 11, 2020

Abate by

Jun 15, 2020

Penalty

Initial $12,145 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A): Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.  a. On or about March 12, 2020, and at times prior, employees were performing servicing and maintenance activities on the CIP line without isolating and controlling all hazardous energy sources. The covered activities included, but were not limited to, valve change-outs. The employees performed tasks as authorized employees without receiving adequate training.

Issued

May 11, 2020

Abate by

May 29, 2020

Penalty

Initial $12,145 · Current $6,073 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(f)(2)(i): Hepatitis B vaccination shall be made available after the employee has received the training required in paragraph (g)(2)(vii)(I) and within 10 working days of initial assignment to all employees who have occupational exposure unless the employee has previously received the complete hepatitis B vaccination series, antibody testing has revealed that the employee is immune, or the vaccine is contraindicated for medical reasons.  a. On or about March 11, 2020, employees were exposed to bloodborne pathogens during clean-up and disinfectant of a tri-clover valve following an amputation accident. The employee was not offered the hepatitis B vaccination following this incident.  b. On or about March 11, 2020, an employee was exposed to bloodborne pathogens while providing first-aid to an employee after an amputation accident. The employee was not offered the hepatitis B vaccination following this incident.

Issued

May 11, 2020

Abate by

May 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(b)(9): (9) Ladders are inspected before initial use in each work shift, and more frequently as necessary, to identify any visible defects that could cause employee injury;  a. On or about March 11, 2020, and at times prior, portable ladders in use were not being inspected before initial use in each work shift.

Issued

May 11, 2020

Abate by

May 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.  a. On or about March 18, 2020, the employer did not verify through written certification that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed.