OSHA Inspection: BLUE BELL CREAMERIES, L. P.

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

Sep 17, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $8,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3)(i)(D):The employer failed to complete and compile information pertaining to equipment in the process and did not include relief system design and design basis:  On or about March 2, 2021, at the Blue Bell Creameries, L.P. facility located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the employer failed to ensure PSI pertaining to the ammonia refrigeration system included the relief system design and design basis to include, but is not limited to the following :   a. Relief system design and design basis for the ammonia refrigeration system, b. 2 PRVs for -28 Re-circulator 526 c. 2 PRVs for +28 Re-circulator 529 d. 2 PRVs for High Pressure Receiver 507 e. 2 PRV for High Stage Compressor 543

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

Nov 15, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $9,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3)(ii): The employer did not document that equipment complies with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices.  Instance a). On or about March 2, 2021, at the Blue Bell facility located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the employer did not document that equipment complied with its chosen recognized and generally accepted good engineering practice (RAGAGEP), such as ANSI IIAR-2 2014 (International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration) section 6.6.2, when pipes penetrating the machinery room separation were not sealed to the wall to which they penetrated.  Instance b). On or about March 2, 2021, at the Blue Bell facility located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the employer did not document that equipment complied with its chosen recognized and generally accepted good engineering practice, such as ANSI IIAR-2 2014 section 6.10.2, when the southwest door of the machinery room was not constructed with a self-closing mechanism and was not constructed to  open in the direction of egress for occupants leaving the machinery room.   Instance c). On or about March 2, 2021, at the Blue Bell facility located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the employer did not document that equipment complied with its chosen recognized and generally accepted good engineering practice, such as ANSI IIAR-2 2014 section 6.12.1, when the emergency stop switch for mechanical equipment in the refrigerating machinery room was not installed adjacent to the machinery room door and the function of the switch was not clearly marked by signage.  Instance d). On or about March 2, 2021, at the Blue Bell facility located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the employer did not document that equipment complied with its chosen recognized and generally accepted good engineering practice, such as ANSI IIAR-2 2014 section 6.12.2, when an emergency ventilation control switch for mechanical equipment in the refrigerating machinery room was not installed outside and adjacent to the machinery room door.  Instance e). On or about March 2nd 2021, at the Blue Bell facility located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the employer did not document that equipment complied with its chosen recognized and generally accepted good engineering practice, such as ANSI IIAR-2 2014 section 6.13.1, when audible and visual alarms were not installed inside and outside of each entrance to the machinery room.  Instance f). On or about March 2nd 2021, at the Blue Bell facility located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the employer did not document that equipment complied with its chosen recognized and generally accepted good engineering practice, such as ANSI IIAR-2 2014 section 6.14.7.4, when the failure of the emergency mechanical ventilation system in the machinery failed to notify a monitored location.   Instance g). On or about March 2nd 2021, at the Blue Bell facility located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the employer did not document that it complied with its chosen recognized and generally accepted good engineering practice, such as ANSI IIAR-2 2014 section 6.14.7.1, when the emergency mechanical ventilation system provided less than the required 30 air changes per hour based on the gross machinery room volume.

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

Sep 17, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $9,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(1)(i)(D): The employer's written operating procedures covering the steps for each operating phase did not address emergency shutdown including the conditions under which emergency shutdown is required, and the assignment of shutdown responsibility to qualified operators to ensure that emergency shutdown in a safe and timely manner.     On or about March 2nd 2021, at Blue Bell Creameries, L.P. located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the employer failed to implement written operating procedures that provide clear instructions and did not address at least emergency shutdown including the conditions under which emergency shutdown is required and the assignment of shutdown responsibility to qualified operators.

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

Sep 17, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $8,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(4): The employer did not develop and implement safe work practices to provide for the control of hazards during operations such as lockout/tagout; confined space entry; opening process equipment or piping; and control over entrance into a facility by maintenance, contractor, laboratory, or other support personnel.  On or about March 2, 2021 at Blue Bell Creameries located in Broken Arrow, OK, the employer did not develop and implement safe work practices to provide for the control of hazards during operations such as control over entrance into a facility by employees, contractor employees, and other support personnel.

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

Sep 17, 2021

Penalty

Initial $7,802 · Current $5,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(g)(2): 29 CFR 1910.119(g)(2): Refresher training was not provided at least every three years, and more often if necessary, to each employee involved in operating a process to assure that the employee understands and adheres to the current operating procedures of the process. The employer, in consultation with the employees involved in operating the process, did not determine the appropriate frequency of refresher training.  On or about March 2, 2021 at Blue Bell Creameries located in Broken Arrow, OK the employer did not provide refresher training at least every three years, and more often if necessary, to each employee involved in operating a process to assure that the employee understands and adheres to the current operating procedures of the process.

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

Sep 17, 2021

Penalty

Initial $7,802 · Current $5,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(h)(2)(i): The employer, when selecting a contractor, did not obtain and evaluate information regarding the contract employer's safety performance and programs.  On or about March 2, 2021, at Blue Bell Creameries located in Oklahoma, the employer did not evaluate information regarding the safety performance and programs of the following contractors but not limited to:  a.) Bridge Point Electric, Inc. b.) CSC Engineers

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

Nov 5, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $9,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(i): The employer did not perform inspections and tests on process equipment.  On or about March 2, 2021, at Blue Bell Creameries located in Broken Arrow, OK, the employer did not perform testing on process equipment for the ammonia refrigeration systems, including process equipment such as, but not limited to:  a. Oil Pressure Differential Cut Out for the compressor 533 b. High and Low Pressure Cut Out for the compressor 538 c. High temperature Cut out for the compressor 543

Issued

Aug 5, 2021

Abate by

Sep 17, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $9,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(l)(1): The employer did not establish and implement written procedures to manage changes (except for "replacements in kind") to process chemicals, technology, equipment, and procedures; and, changes to facilities that affect a covered process.  On or about March 2, 2021 the employer did not establish and implement written procedures to manage changes for replacing the pump (Ammonia 5 + 28 Recirculator) from Cornell manufacturer to Teikoku USA Inc.