OSHA Inspection: GREAT LAKES BREWING COMPANY

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

Sep 9, 2021

Penalty

Initial $8,778 · Current $8,778

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. On or about March 31, 2021, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 75.98% of the permissible daily exposure (8-hour, time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 100 percent), during the 391 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 89 minutes not sampled. A valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared was not established for the keg line operator who was exposed to noise levels measured to be above the action level of 50% of the permissible daily exposure.   b.  On or about March 31, 2021, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 70.18% of the permissible daily exposure (8-hour, time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 100 percent), during the 420 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 60 minutes not sampled. A valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared was not established for the data collector who was exposed to noise levels measured to be above the action level of 50% of the permissible daily exposure.

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

Sep 22, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 :  On or about March 31, 2021, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 84.49% of the permissible daily exposure (8-hour, time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 100 percent), during the 436 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 44 minutes not sampled. A new audiogram for the bottling line operator, who was exposed to noise levels measured to be above the action level of 50% of the permissible daily exposure, was not conducted annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram.

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

Sep 9, 2021

Penalty

Initial $8,778 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k):  a. On or about March 31, 2021, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 75.98% of the permissible daily exposure (8-hour, time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 100 percent), during the 391 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 89 minutes not sampled. Training was not provided for the keg line operator who was exposed to noise levels measured to be above the action level of 50% of the permissible daily exposure.   b.  On or about March 31, 2021, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 70.18% of the permissible daily exposure (8-hour, time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 100 percent), during the 420 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 60 minutes not sampled. Training was not provided  for the data collector who was exposed to noise levels measured to be above the action level of 50% of the permissible daily exposure.

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

Sep 22, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  On or about March 31, 2021, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 84.49% of the permissible daily exposure (8-hour, time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 100 percent), during the 436 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 44 minutes not sampled. Annual training was not provided to the bottling line operator, who was exposed to noise levels measured to be above the action level of 50% of the permissible daily exposure.

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

Aug 31, 2021

Penalty

Initial $7,022 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(7)(iii): The employer did not document the basis for determining that all hazards in a permit space had been eliminated, through a written certification that contained the date, the location of the space, and the signature of the person making the determination:  On or about February 9, 2021, the employer failed to document through a written certification  the basis for determining that all hazards in the permit space had been eliminated when brewers entered the Lauter Tun vessel. Employees entering the vessel were potentially exposed to caustic chemicals and electrical energy sources.

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

May 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,022 · Current $7,022

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(l)(2)(iii): Filter collectors installed by the employer for the grain facility after March 30, 1988, were not located in an area inside the facility that was separated from other areas of the facility by construction having at least a one hour fire-resistance rating, and which is adjacent to an exterior wall and vented to the outside.   On or about February 9 2021, the indoor ArrestAll AR-35 cartridge-type dust collector was used for collecting combustible grain dust from upstream process systems including bag loading stations and mills, as well as a material storage hopper. The ArrestAll AR-35 cartridge-type dust collector was located inside of the grain room, and not separated from other areas of the facility by construction having at least a one hour fire-resistance rating.  This exposed employees working in the area to fire hazards including, but not limited to, burns from sparks and embers and respiratory irritation from hazardous byproducts of a fire (i.e. smoke and toxic combustion gases).

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(j)(1): The employer did not develop and implement a written housekeeping program that established the frequency and the method(s) determined best to reduce accumulations of fugitive grain dust on ledges, floors, equipment, and other exposes surfaces:  On or about February 9, 2021, the employer failed to develop and implement a written housekeeping program that establishes the frequency and methods to best reduce accumulations of fugitive grain dust on ledges, floors, equipment, and other exposed surfaces.

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.272(j)(2)(i)(B): The employer's priority housekeeping program for grain elevators did not include floors of enclosed areas containing grinding equipment:  On or about February 9, 2021, the employer failed to identify the floor of the mill room, an enclosed area that contains grinding equipment, as a priority in the housekeeping program.