OSHA Inspection: ALPHA BAKING CO., INC.

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,044 · Current $4,226 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(1)(i): Unprotected sides and edges.  Except as provided elsewhere in this section, the employer must ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the following:  (a)  On or about October 30, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; employees cleaned the top of the Babco Bread Oven without utilizing a form of fall protection exposing employees to fall hazards of approximately 89.5 inches.  (b)  On or about November 6, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; employees cleaned the top of the Babco Bun Oven without utilizing a form of fall protection exposing employees to fall hazards of approximately 89.5 inches.

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Abate by

May 5, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,806 · Current $5,284 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(6)(i): Each employee less than 4 feet (1.2 m) above dangerous equipment is protected from falling into or onto the dangerous equipment by a guardrail system or a travel restraint system, unless the equipment is covered or guarded to eliminate the hazard.   On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; in the Mixing Room by the bun mixer; employees would spray the sides with lubricant and pull dough off the side walls in close proximity of the inward rotating chunker paddles exposing employees to fall hazards.  The sides of the walls extended 35 inches above the work platform.

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(3)(ii):  The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes an employee to injury, shall be guarded. The guarding device shall be in conformity with any appropriate standards therefor, or, in the absence of applicable specific standards, shall be so designed and constructed as to prevent the operator from having any part of his body in the danger zone during the operating cycle.  (a)  On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; in the Production Room; the AMF 75R Slicemaster had openings on the infeed side of approximately five inches based on current run exposing employees to struck by hazards from the slicer blade.  (b)  On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; in the Mixing Room by the bun mixer; employees would pull dough off the side walls in close proximity of the inward rotating chunker paddles exposing employees to caught between hazards.

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,044 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(2):If the workplace contains permit spaces, the employer shall inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces.   NOTE: A sign reading DANGER -- PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER or using other similar language would satisfy the requirement for a sign.  (a)  On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; the Flour Bin, located outside, was not posted as a permit required confined space.   (b) On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; the Babco bun oven was not posted as a permit required confined space.

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,806 · Current $5,284 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d)(3):  The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout).  Machine or equipment isolation. All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s).  On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in the Mixing Room; employees were exposed to machine hazards associated with moving parts when they engaged in cleaning activities on the J.H. Day Company, Hercules Mixer.  Employees utilized the emergency stop button as the isolating energy device exposing employees to the potential restart/inadvertent activation of the equipment .

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,283 · Current $3,170 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.151(c):  Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.  (a)  On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in the Ingredient Storage Area; the Bradley eyewash station had a low level of fluid in the container exposing employees to potential eye injuries from insufficient flushing liquids.  (b)  On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in the Shipping Area; the Bradley eyewash station had a low level of fluid in the container exposing employees to potential eye injuries from insufficient flushing liquids.

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,044 · Current $4,226 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.243(c)(3):  Vertical portable grinders. Safety guards used on machines known as right angle head or vertical portable grinders shall have a maximum exposure angle of 180 deg., and the guard shall be so located so as to be between the operator and the wheel during use. Adjustment of guard shall be such that pieces of an accidentally broken wheel will be deflected away from the operator.  On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; in the Maintenance Room; the DeWalt DC411 4 1/2 inch heaty duty cordless cut off tool had the guard removed when grinding a flat piece of metal exposing employees to struck by hazards.

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,044 · Current $4,226 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.263(c)(3): Sprockets and V-belt drives. Sprockets and V-belt drives located within reach from platforms or passageways or located within 8 feet 6 inches from the floor shall be completely enclosed.   (a)  On or about December 6, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; in the Production Room; the Inner Wrapper had several exposed chain and sprockets on the back side of the machine exposing employees to caught between hazards.  (b)  On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; in the Mixing Room; the Adamatic Rounding Case had an exposed chain and sprocket approximately 7 feet 7 inches above the floor exposing employees to caught between hazards.

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Abate by

Aug 9, 2022

Penalty

Initial $8,806 · Current $5,284 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.263(e)(1)(v)(a):  Engage both hands of the operator, when the agitator is in motion under power, and while the bowl is opened more than one-fifth of its total opening.  On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; in the Mixing Room; an employee was operating the Royal Peerless Hercules Bread Mixer, Type B, to open the door while another employee dumped in the ingredients.  The opening was greater than seven inches exposing an employee to struck by hazards.

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Penalty

Initial $7,044 · Current $4,226 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.263(f)(3): Rear of divider. The back of the divider shall have a complete cover to enclose all of the moving parts, or each individual part shall be enclosed or guarded to remove the separate hazards. The rear cover shall be provided with a limit switch in order that the machine cannot operate when this cover is open. The guard on the back shall be hinged so that it cannot be completely removed and if a catch or brace is provided for holding the cover open, it shall be designed so that it will not release due to vibrations or minor bumping whereby the cover may drop on an employee.  On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; in the Divider Room; an employee was exposed to pinch hazards while spraying the dough roller by the head of the divider piston block as it came down and made contact with the metal plate next to the conveyor.

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.37(b)(5):  Each doorway or passage along an exit access that could be mistaken for an exit must be marked "Not an Exit" or similar designation, or be identified by a sign indicating its actual use (e.g., closet).  On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin at the upstairs storage area; the door leading to the room maintaining sanitation chemicals and personal protective equipment was not labeled as Not an Exit.

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(i):  An employer may provide respirators at the request of employees or permit employees to use their own respirators, if the employer determines that such respirator use will not in itself create a hazard.  If the employer determines that any voluntary respirator use is permissible, the employer shall provide the respirator users with the information contained in Appendix D to this section ("Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard");   On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; an employee was not provided training as outlined in the "Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard" while utilizing the 3M Particulate Respirator N95, Model 8511, to protect against nuisance dust while working in the facility.

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.157(c)(1):  The employer shall provide portable fire extinguishers and shall mount, locate and identify them so that they are readily accessible to employees without subjecting the employees to possible injury.  On or about December 8, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; in the Ingredients Storage area, a fire extinguisher was blocked with a 55-gallon barrel on wheels exposing employees to potential smoke inhalation due to not having a readily accessible fire extinguisher.

Issued

Apr 7, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(g)(1):  Space about electric equipment. Sufficient access and working space shall be provided and maintained about all electric equipment to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment.  On or about December 7, 2021, at an establishment located at 4300 County Road CR in Manitowoc, Wisconsin; in the Ingredients Room; a mobile stair system used with the Ribbon Mixer was placed approximately 32 inches from the electrical disconnect.