OSHA Inspection: SMITHFIELD FOODS

Issued

Mar 19, 2021

Abate by

May 5, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $9,600 Reduced

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:  The employer is failing to protect employees from struck-by hazards associated with operating powered industrial trucks in a warehouse with inadequately protected storage racks.  This was most recently documented at 2228 Industrial Road, Crete, Nebraska 68333 on December 14, 2020 where the employer has employees operating powered industrial trucks near inadequately protected storage racks in Freezer #1 with other pedestrian employees.  This failure was evident as a powered industrial truck struck the upright of the racking, causing the racking to collapse and crush an employee that was working under the racking, resulting in fatal injuries.   AMONG OTHER METHODS, FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHODS TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD ARE:  1)         Install impact protection at the ends of aisles to prevent racking uprights from being struck.     2)         Reinforce training to employees on recognizing the dangers of using operating powered industrial equipment in proximity to storage racks and to evaluate any hazards in regard to striking racking uprights.    3)         Develop a process where employees picking inventory are not under any racking.