OSHA Inspection: ICE CREAM SPECIALTIES

Issued

Oct 22, 2020

Abate by

Feb 5, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,639 · Current $9,639

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 the Gram #1 machine line, employees were required to remove unreleased product from the extractor bar ring picker clips after leaving the drop area, including reaching in towards the rotating turret.  During this procedure, where some employees have to use unsecured steps (moveable) to reach the innermost picker clip next to the turret, in order to remove an unreleased product bar, an employee was injured when slipping from the moveable steps, and placed a hand into a pinch point between the rotating turret and a stationary piece of plate steel installed next to the turret.  Employees were not protected from this pinch point hazard when performing an authorized procedure.   b. On the Gram #1 machine line, an overhead struck by hazard existed as the extractor bar ring rotated around the turret and as employees were required to remove unreleased product from the picker arm clips.  In order to reach the picker arm clips towards the turret, some employees needed to use steps to reach unreleased product from the innermost picker arm clips, resulting in actual periodic contact with the rotating extractor bar ring and parts and their head, and potential abrasion, bruising, and/or laceration injuries.  The procedure had been to duck out of the way of the rotating extractor bar ring.  Abatement documentation is required for this violation.

Issued

Oct 22, 2020

Abate by

Dec 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,639 · Current $9,639

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(3)(ii): Point(s) of operation of machinery were not guarded to prevent employee(s) from having any part of their body in the danger zone(s) during operating cycle(s):  a. On the Gram #1 machine line, the guard at the extractor bar ring, where the ice cream product is dropped into the wrapper line, did not prevent employees from reaching into the point of operation.  Ice cream bars periodically remain attached to the clips on the extractor bar, requiring employees to remove the unreleased product after the extractor bar rotates beyond the guarded area.  (Note: employees are not supposed to reach into the point of operation area, but the guard does not prevent it.)  Abatement documentation is required for this violation.

Issued

Oct 22, 2020

Abate by

Feb 5, 2021

Penalty

Initial $5,783 · Current $5,783

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirement of this standard were being followed:  A lockout/tagout inspection was not done annually, including review of specific lockout/tagout procedures to ensure accuracy of the procedures, and including an inspection between the inspector and each authorized employee of an actual lockout procedure to ensure that the authorized employee performs the correct procedure and that the procedure was correct.  (Note: the annual inspection is required to identify deficiencies of the procedures and incorrect application of the procedures.  The inspection is required to be certified according to 1910.147(c)(6)(ii).)  Abatement documentation is required for this violation.

Issued

Oct 22, 2020

Abate by

Feb 5, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii): Procedures did not 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, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(A), (c)(4)(ii)(B), (c)(4)(ii)(C) and (c)(4)(ii)(D):  Lockout procedures, such as for the Gram #1 production line, that included electric/mechanical, air, and steam energy sources, were outdated and did not clearly and specifically identify energy sources for each machine component, correct energy isolation locations, and detailed and specific procedures for testing the de-energization of each energy source.  (Note: although not required by the standard, the company specific procedure reviewed during this inspection did not include accurate information on authorized employees to perform lockout and incorrectly identified authorized employees to be included as affected employees.)  Abatement documentation is required for this violation.