OSHA Inspection: PROTEIN FOR PETS OPCO, LLC

Issued

Apr 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,046 · Current $6,028 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial truck(s) found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition(s):  At a worksite at 3800 E 32nd Street, Joplin, MO 64804:  Workers were exposed to struck-by and crushing hazards. This occurred when employees were permitted to operate powered industrial trucks that were found to need repair, had defective components, and were unsafe to other workers. The equipment was not taken out of service and remained in an unsafe operating condition.  a) On or about October 20, 2022, a Hyster-powered industrial truck (Model#J35XN/Serial#A935N02566N) was found to be in need of repairs and was permitted to stay in operation in the plate freezer area of the facility. The operational controls of the equipment had been damaged and homemade repairs were made to the unit.   b) On or about October 21, 2022, a Yale-powered industrial truck (Model#GLC030VXNUAE082/Serial#C809V06812L) was found to be in need of repairs and was permitted to stay in operation in the chill freezer area of the facility. The backup alarm, along with the horn was not in working order and nearly struck a CSHO while in operation.

Issued

Apr 5, 2023

Abate by

Aug 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,063 · Current $8,438 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.119(d)(3)(i)(B): The employer's piping and instrument diagrams were not accurate and did not represent equipment that was existing and was part of the process.   At a worksite at 3800 E 32nd Street, Joplin, MO 64804:   Employees engaged in repairing, replacing, operating, inspecting, testing, and maintaining covered process equipment were exposed to toxic, cryogenic, and fire hazards in the event of an anhydrous ammonia release. This was last demonstrated on or about  October 20, 2022, when the holding freezer had two Frigid Coil/Iemco brand evaporators that are 23.6 tons of refrigeration capacity each, had been added to the existing ammonia system. This was not reflected on an updated P&ID R-703 for FR-1, FR-2, FR-3, FR-4 and associated valve groupings, EC-1, EC-2, C-3, C- 5, HPR, HTR1, LTR1, LTR1-RP1, and LTR1-RP2 which are all equipment associated with this project.

Issued

Apr 5, 2023

Abate by

Aug 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,063 · Current $8,438 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3)(ii): The employer did not document that the equipment complies with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices.  At a worksite at 3800 E 32nd Street, Joplin, MO 64804:   The employer failed to protect employees because the employer did not document that the equipment complies with the employer's chosen recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices (RAGAGEP). This was last demonstrated on or about October 20, 2022, and at times prior to that. This included but was not limited to ANSI/IIAR 2 -1999 Section 7.1.4 when the ammonia piping system associated with, EC-1, EC-2, C-3, C- 5, HPR, HTR1, LTR1, LTR1-RP1, and LTR1-RP2 located on the roof on P&ID R706 was not labeled with the following information:  "All piping mains, headers, and branches shall be identified as to the physical state of the refrigerant (that is, vapor, liquid, etc.), the relative pressure level of the refrigerant, and the direction of flow."  This hazardous condition exposed employees engaged in repairing, replacing, operating, inspecting, testing, and maintenance activities of covered process equipment to toxic, cryogenic, and fire hazards in the event of an anhydrous ammonia release.

Issued

Apr 5, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,063 · Current $8,438 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.119(i)(2)(iv): The employer did not train employees involved in operating a covered process in the changes made to process safety information (PSI) prior to the startup of the system.    At a worksite at 3800 E 32nd Street, Joplin, MO 64804:   Employees engaged in repairing, replacing, operating, inspecting, testing, and maintaining covered process equipment were exposed to toxic, cryogenic, and fire hazards in the event of an anhydrous ammonia release. The pre-startup safety review (PSSR) did not confirm that training of each employee involved in operating a process had been completed prior to the introduction of highly hazardous chemicals to the process. This was last demonstrated on or about October 20, 2022, when the PSSR document (0498_001), during which the holding freezer had two Frigid Coil/Iemco brand evaporators that are 23.6 tons of refrigeration capacity each, had been added to the existing ammonia system.

Issued

Apr 5, 2023

Abate by

May 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,046 · Current $6,028 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.119(j)(4)(iii): The frequency of inspections and tests of process equipment to maintain its mechanical integrity, was not consistent with applicable manufacturer's recommendations and good engineering practices, or more frequently determined to be necessary by prior operating experience.     At a worksite at 3800 E 32nd Street, Joplin, MO 64804:    The employer failed to protect employees from the hazards of highly hazardous chemicals associated with ammonia refrigeration that are used daily. This was last demonstrated on or about October 21, 2022, and at times prior to that. The employer did not follow the recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices (RAGAGEP). The employer failed to protect employees because the employer did not inspect and test piping systems (piping components such as pressure relief valves) to ensure that they were maintaining the ongoing integrity of process equipment.   a) A pressure relief valve"C5 PSV04" marked on P&ID R702 for the refrigeration system was not adequately maintained in that pressure relief valves (PRVs) were not being inspected or replaced every five years. There was a Hansen PRV that was scheduled to be replaced in August 2021, and had not been replaced, or taken out of service, nor had the employer taken any further steps to ensure safe operations. The valve is connected to the Mycom Screw Compressor (Model # N280JM-U/Serial # 2830093).   b) A pressure relief valve"C5 PSV05" marked on P&ID R702 for the refrigeration system was not adequately maintained in that pressure relief valves (PRVs) were not being inspected or replaced every five years. There was a Hansen PRV that was scheduled to be replaced in August 2021, and had not been replaced, or taken out of service, nor had the employer taken any further steps to ensure safe operations. The valve is connected to the Mycom Screw Compressor (Model # N280JM-U/Serial # 2830093).   c) A pressure relief valve"C5 PSV07" marked on P&ID R702 for the refrigeration system was not adequately maintained in that pressure relief valves (PRVs) were not being inspected or replaced every five years. There was a Hansen PRV that was scheduled to be replaced in August 2021, and had not been replaced, or taken out of service, nor had the employer taken any further steps to ensure safe operations. The valve is connected to the Mycom Screw Compressor (Model # N280JM-U/Serial # 2830093).   d) A pressure relief valve"C5 PSV08" marked on P&ID R702 for the refrigeration system was not adequately maintained in that pressure relief valves (PRVs) were not being inspected or replaced every five years. There was a Hansen PRV that was scheduled to be replaced in August 2021, and had not been replaced, or taken out of service, nor had the employer taken any further steps to ensure safe operations. The valve is connected to the Mycom Screw Compressor (Model # N280JM-U/Serial # 2830093).   This hazardous condition exposed employees engaged in repairing, replacing, operating, inspecting, testing, and maintaining covered process equipment to toxic, cryogenic, and fire hazards in the event of an anhydrous ammonia release.

Issued

Apr 5, 2023

Abate by

Aug 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,063 · Current $8,438 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.119(j)(5): The employer did not correct deficiencies in equipment that were outside acceptable limits (defined by the process safety information on paragraph (d) of this section) before use.  At a worksite at 3800 E 32nd Street, Joplin, MO 64804:   The employer failed to protect employees because the employer did not correct deficiencies in equipment that were outside of acceptable limits. This was last demonstrated on or about October 21, 2022, and at times prior to that.  a) A pressure gauge for the  "HV33" marked on P&ID R702 was not in good working order as it wasn't visible or legible, and had not been replaced, or taken out of service, nor had the employer taken any further steps to ensure safe operations. The gauge readings were not visible for equipment located on the  LTR1.    b) A pressure gauge for the  "HV35" marked on P&ID R702 was not in good working order as it wasn't visible or legible, and had not been replaced, or taken out of service, nor had the employer taken any further steps to ensure safe operations. The gauge readings were not visible for equipment located on the  LTR1.    c) The ice management procedures were not sufficient to correct the hazardous build-up of ice for the "HTR1" marked on P&ID R701. The ice accumulation was excessive and not in good working order as it prevented the proper identification, examination, or exercise of valves, or piping. In addition, it also impacted the structural integrity of equipment and related components, and had not been replaced, or taken out of service, nor had the employer taken any further steps to ensure safe operations. The valves are connected to the High-Temperature Recirculator.    d) The ice management procedures were not sufficient to correct the hazardous build-up of ice for the "LTR1" marked on P&ID R702. The ice accumulation was excessive and not in good working order as it prevented the proper identification, examination, or exercise of valves, a sight glass, or piping. In addition, it also impacted the structural integrity of equipment and related components, and had not been replaced, or taken out of service, nor had the employer taken any further steps to ensure safe operations. The valves are connected to the Low-Temperature Recirculator.    This hazardous condition exposed employees engaged in repairing, replacing, operating, inspecting, testing, and maintaining covered process equipment to toxic, cryogenic, and fire hazards in the event of an anhydrous ammonia release.