OSHA Inspection: WEST LIBERTY FOODS, L.L.C.

Issued

Aug 2, 2021

Abate by

Aug 19, 2021

Penalty

Initial $10,728 · Current $7,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  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 in that employees were potentially exposed to an oxygen deficient atmosphere associated with nitrogen:  a. On or about March 22, 2021, in the Ready-To-Eat Sandwich Room, the Multivac R145 added nitrogen into packaging.  The employees were exposed to the hazards of nitrogen, an asphyxiant, and a lack of appropriate monitoring equipment to ensure that oxygen levels were maintained when nitrogen was used inside the room.

Issued

Aug 2, 2021

Penalty

Initial $12,873 · Current $7,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(3): Walking-working surfaces were not maintained free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice:  a.  On or about March 22, 2021, in the sausage room, employees were exposed to slip, trip and fall hazards when grating used to facilitate excess water was removed and not replaced.

Issued

Aug 2, 2021

Abate by

Aug 12, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(5)(i): Locks, tags, chains, wedges, key blocks, adapter pins, self-locking fasteners, or other hardware shall be provided by the employer for isolating, securing or blocking of machines or equipment from energy sources:  a.  On or about May 19, 2021, on the Ready to Eat Sandwich line, employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts, amputation and laceration hazards, during servicing and die changes made on the Multivac R145, Serial Number 291976. The employer failed to provide adequate measures including, but not limited to, adequate amount of locks in order to isolate, secure or block the Multivac R145 from all energy sources.    One employee involved in the servicing had only been provided one lock when five locks per individual were needed to adequately isolate the machine.

Issued

Aug 2, 2021

Abate by

Aug 12, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1) through (d)(6):  a.  On or about May 19, 2021,  on the Ready to Eat Sandwich line,  employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts, amputation and laceration hazards, during servicing and die changes made on the Multivac R145, Serial Number 291976.   The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as the machine was not shut down or turned off to perform the servicing work (per 1910.147(d)(2) requirements). As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [(d)(3)], LOTO device application [(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)] and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from machine servicing hazards.

Issued

Aug 2, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B): The energy control procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy.   a.  On or about April 20, 2021, on the Ready to Eat Sandwich line, employees were exposed to potential hazards including, but not limited to, stored energy hazards when the energy control procedure for the Multivac R145, Serial Number 291976, omitted source(s) of energy.  The omission of the energy source(s) exposed employees to leaking materials from low pressure liquid materials and gases.

Issued

Aug 2, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.334(a)(2)(ii): There was a defect or evidence of damage that could have exposed an employee to injury and the defective or damaged item was not removed from service and an employee was using it before repairs and tests necessary to render the equipment safe were made:  a) On or about March 22, 2021, in the IQF North Room, a flexible cord was used to provide power to the controller for the Baldor Washdown Duty DC drive motor controller unit, Serial Number removed.  Employees were exposed to electrical hazards when the flexible cord used to power the unit was not properly inspected or removed from service when observed having damaged outer insulation.