OSHA Inspection: ABBYLAND FOODS, INC.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,729 · Current $5,729

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.:  At a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect operators and other employees in the machine areas from hazards, such but not limited to:  a)  On or about December 6, 2022, in the Forming 2 area on the IR Line, the employer did not protect a Machine Operator employee from the ingoing nip points and rotating parts presented by the rotating auger of Meat Saver equipment on a MP800 forming machine. An employee suffered a fingertip amputation from contact with the unguarded auger.  The Abbyland Foods Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1471711, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 9, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 502 E. Linden St., Abbotsford, WI 54405.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,729 · Current $5,729

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.:  At a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect operators and other employees in the machine areas from hazards, such but not limited to:  b) On or about December 14, 2023, in the Forming 2 Area on the IR line, the employer did not protect employees from the ingoing nip points presented by the IR oven's metal conveyor belts.  The Abbyland Foods Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1471711, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 9, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 502 E. Linden St., Abbotsford, WI 54405.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,729 · Current $5,729

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.:  At a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect operators and other employees in the machine areas from hazards, such but not limited to:  c) On or about January 25, 2023, in the Forming 2 area on the Spiral line, the employer did not protect employees from the ingoing nip points presented by the metal conveyor belts of the Spiral oven where it passed over  pulleys/shafts at the connection points to transfer conveyors.   The Abbyland Foods Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1471711, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 9, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 502 E. Linden St., Abbotsford, WI 54405.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,729 · Current $5,729

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.:  At a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect operators and other employees in the machine areas from hazards, such but not limited to:  d) On or about January 25, 2023, in the Forming 2 area on the Double D1 (DD1) line and in the Forming 3 area on the Double D2 (DD2) line, the sausage link forming equipment (linker) was not guarded to prevent employees from coming into contact with the pneumatically driven knives of the linker equipment.  The Abbyland Foods Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1471711, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 9, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 502 E. Linden St., Abbotsford, WI 54405.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,729 · Current $5,729

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.:  At a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect operators and other employees in the machine areas from hazards, such but not limited to:   e) On or about January 25, 2023, in the Forming 3 area on the Double D2 (DD2) line, and Forming 2 area on the Double D1 (DD1) line, the employer did not protect  employees from the ingoing nip points presented by the metal conveyor belts at the pulleys/shafts near the catch plate/grease trap, and at the point where the oven conveyor received product from the sausage link forming equipment.  The Abbyland Foods Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1471711, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 9, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 502 E. Linden St., Abbotsford, WI 54405.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,729 · Current $5,729

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.:  At a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect operators and other employees in the machine areas from hazards, such but not limited to:  f) On or about January 25, 2023, in the Fresh Kitchen area on the Brat line, Hormel Link line and Hand Pack Line, the employer did not protect employees from the ingoing nip points presented by the conveyor belts where they passed over pulleys: - located where trays of brats transferred from the blue plastic conveyor to the Omori STN Series stretchwrapper machine's white conveyor. - located where brats from the stuffers of Brat Line 1 and Brat Line transitioned to V-shaped conveyors.  - located where the trays of links were manually transferred to stretchwrapper machine's white conveyor. - located where employees stacked and transferred sheets of links to the boxing process.  The Abbyland Foods Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1471711, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 9, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 502 E. Linden St., Abbotsford, WI 54405.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,729 · Current $5,729

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.:  At a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect operators and other employees in the machine areas from hazards, such but not limited to:  g) On or about January 25, 2023, in the RTE-1 area, the employer did not protect employees from the ingoing nip points presented by the conveyors passing over pulleys located where the conveyor received product from the sausage peeler and at the end of the conveyor line in the boxing room.   The Abbyland Foods Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1471711, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 9, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 502 E. Linden St., Abbotsford, WI 54405.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,729 · Current $5,729

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.:  At a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect operators and other employees in the machine areas from hazards, such but not limited to:  h) On or about January 25, 2023, in the RTE-3 area, the employer did not protect employees from the: - ingoing nip points on Lines 7, 6, 5, where the blue conveyors ran over pulleys to transfer boxes from ADCO packaging machines to their respective scales/metal detector equipment. - caught in the moving parts of the tray conveyor located below the Drake sausage patty sorting machines. - caught-in the rotating parts of the sausage link sorting machines on Lines 6 and 5.  The Abbyland Foods Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1471711, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 9, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 502 E. Linden St., Abbotsford, WI 54405.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,729 · Current $5,729

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.:  At a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect operators and other employees in the machine areas from hazards, such but not limited to:  j) On or about January 26, 2023, in the Boning Area at the 1st Chuck line and the Loin line the employer did not protect employees from the ingoing nip points  presented by the undersides of the overhead conveyors as they passed over pulleys adjacent to the bandsaw station.   The Abbyland Foods Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1471711, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 9, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 502 E. Linden St., Abbotsford, WI 54405.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,729 · Current $5,729

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.:  At a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect operators and other employees in the machine areas from hazards, such but not limited to:  k) On or about January 26, 2023, in the MT-2 maintenance shop, the employer did not protect employees from the rotating part or caught-between hazards presented by the Plate Sharpener whose interlock and guard had been disabled and removed respectively.  The Abbyland Foods Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1471711, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 9, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 502 E. Linden St., Abbotsford, WI 54405.

Issued

Jun 30, 2023

Abate by

Jun 2, 2025

Penalty

Initial $5,729 · Current $5,729

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1):  One or more methods of machine guarding shall be provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks. Examples of guarding methods are-barrier guards, two-hand tripping devices, electronic safety devices, etc.:  At a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not provide machine guarding to protect operators and other employees in the machine areas from hazards, such but not limited to:  l) On or about December 14, 2022, in work areas including, but not limited to, BG-1, BG-2, BG-3, BG-4, South Kitchen, Fresh Kitchen, and Forming areas; the employer did not protect employees from caught-between or struck by hazards presented by combo lifters (dumpers) used in those departments. Employees could bodily enter or reach into the areas below the raised dumpers and then be caught-between or struck-by the dumper equipment and combo (tote) as they were lowered.  The Abbyland Foods Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.212(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1471711, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on March 9, 2021, with respect to a workplace located at 502 E. Linden St., Abbotsford, WI 54405.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,822 · Current $5,729 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(c):  The employer must provide, and ensure each employee uses, a safe means of access and egress to and from walking-working surfaces:  On or about January 25, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not provide a safe means of access and egress to and from walking-working surfaces. In the Bone Room, employees working at the inner production lines were required to pass below the bottom of a conveyor which was 43 inches above the floor. Employees entering and exiting the workstations of the inner production lines were exposed to potential machine hazards from the conveyor and to limitations of the size of the exit route for emergency egress from the workstation.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,822 · Current $5,729 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.23(b)(4):  Ladder rungs, steps, and cleats have a minimum clear width of 11.5 inches (29 cm) on portable ladders and 16 inches (41 cm) for fixed ladders:  On or about January 25, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the fixed ladder on the Blend-Grind 1 (BG-1) mixer did not have a minimum clear width of 16 inches. The fixed ladder used to access the operating position of the mixer contained rungs that tapered down in width from the top of the ladder. The top rung measured at 14.5 inches, and the bottom rung at 11.5 inches.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $9,822 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(3)(i):  The employer must ensure each employee is protected from falling through any hole (including skylights) that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level by one or more of the following; covers, guardrail systems, safety net systems, travel restraint systems or personal fall arrest systems:  On or about January 25, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from falling through floor holes:  a) In the Fresh Kitchen box room on the second story of the facility; floor holes were present and employees were exposed to fall hazards through not adequately guarded floor holes, used to drop corrugated boxes to the Fresh Kitchen production area located the floor below.   b) In the RTE-2 box room on the second story of the facility; floor holes were present and employees were exposed to fall hazards through not adequately guarded floor holes, used to drop corrugated boxes to the RTE-2 production area located the floor below.  c) In the RTE-3 box room on the second story of the facility; floor holes were present and employees were exposed to fall hazards through not adequately guarded floor holes, used to drop corrugated boxes to the RTE-3 production area located the floor below.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $9,822 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 March 14, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; employees working from platforms above stuffer equipment hoppers in South Kitchen were not protected from falling into the dangerous equipment by a guardrail or a travel restraint system. The body belts and chains provided by the employer were not compliant travel restraint systems, which allowed employees to access the unguarded fall hazard on the platform at the edge of the hopper.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $9,822 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(14)(i):  The employer must protect each employee on the unprotected working side of a slaughtering facility platform that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level from falling by using guardrail systems, or travel restrain systems:   On or about January 25, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; Kill Floor employees were exposed to fall hazards of approximately 8 feet 9 inches when accessing, traversing and working from the platform located at the beginning of the kill line. Employees accessed the platform via a fixed ladder, walked to their positions on the platform, and connected to retractable fall arrest devices.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.30(a)(3):  The employer must train each employee in at least the topics contained in this section, paragraphs (a)(3)(i) through (a)(3)(iv):   On or about January 25, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not provide training to each employee in order to recognize hazards associated with accessing and working from a slaughtering platform and to understand procedures to control or minimize those hazards.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $9,822 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.29(b)(13)(i):  When guardrail systems are used around holes that serve as points of access (such as ladderways), the guardrail system opening shall have a self-closing gate that slides or swings away from the hole, and is equipped with a top rail and midrail or equivalent intermediate member that meets the requirements in paragraph (b) of this section, or is offset to prevent an employee from walking or falling into the hole:  At a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; where guardrail systems were used around ladderways, the guardrail system openings were not equipped with self-closing gates:  a) On or before January 25, 2023, employees were exposed to fall hazards of approximately seven feet to the ground while using a ladderway hole as a point of access to the RTE-2 Freezer 2 platform, which was not equipped with an offset or a self closing gate.   b)  On or about December 14, 2022, employees were exposed to fall hazards of approximately seven feet to the ground while using ladderway holes as a point of access to three separate platforms in BG-3 at the south mixer, which were not equipped with an offset or a self closing gate.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,822 · Current $5,729 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1):  The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):   On January 25, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not determine if hazards were present or likely to be present when employees in the Smokehouse area conducted spray application of caustic sanitizing foam (KC-635 HF sanitizer and disinfectant) prior to removal of racks from ovens. The employer's Job Safety Analysis (JSA) for the smokehouse did not evaluate the splash or spray hazards to the eyes/face associated with the use of the caustic foam.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $9,822 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i):  The employer shall conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the requirements of this standard are being followed:   On or about January 27, 2023, at a facility located 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not conduct annual periodic inspections of the energy control procedures for the production equipment.  Employees were exposed to caught-in and struck-by hazards associated with energized machines, and unexpected start-up or release of energy sources due to the lack of periodic inspections to identify any deviations or inadequacies for correction.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i):  The employer shall provide training to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control program are understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls are acquired by employees:  On or about January  27, 2023, at a facility located 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not train production personnel as authorized employees to lockout/tagout their assigned equipment. Production employees were exposed to caught-in and struck-by hazards associated with energized machines, and unexpected start-up or release of energy sources such as, but not limited to, electrical, pneumatic, and gravitational. Production employees were not trained to understand how to control energy sources prior to tasks including unjamming, setup, and cleaning.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(8):  Lockout or tagout shall be performed only by the authorized employees who are performing the servicing or maintenance:   On January 27, 2023, at a facility located 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the employer did not ensure that each employee performing setup was isolating and verifying all energy sources on their production equipment.� Employees were exposed to caught-in and struck-by hazards associated with unexpected machine start-up or release of energy sources, such as, but not limited to, electrical, pneumatic, and gravitational.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d):  The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence:   On or about January 27, 2023, at a facility located 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; employees engaged in setup, servicing and maintenance of equipment with the potential for hazardous energy were not following the sequence of established procedures for the application of energy control:  Sequence (1) to (6): (1) prepare for shut down by recognizing energy hazards and its controls,� (2) turn off and shut down the machines,� (3) physically locate and operate energy isolating devices in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source,� (4) affix lockout or tagout devices to each energy isolating device,� (5) render safe all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy,� (6) verify that isolation and de-energization of the machine or equipment have been accomplished.   The employer did not ensure that (d)(1) through (d)(6) was followed by production employees performing unjamming, cleaning, and setup on their assigned production equipment. Employees did not properly secure each energy source prior to starting work. Employees were exposed to struck-by and caught-in hazards associated with unexpected machine start-up.   The employer did not implement energy control application steps as the machines were not shut down or turned off for unjamming, cleaning, and setup [per the 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 hazards. As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lockout/tagout device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from machine hazards.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $9,822 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(2):  Guards shall be affixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere if for any reason attachment to the machine is not possible. The guard shall be such that it does not offer an accident hazard in itself:  On or about January 26, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; guards were not affixed or secured elsewhere to the machine when:  a) In the Boning area on the overhead discard conveyors of the 1st Chuck line and Loin line, metal guards were hung by pegs and were not affixed to the conveyors, exposing employees to ingoing nip points presented by the white plastic conveyor belts as they passed over pulleys.       b) In the Boning area on the inclined conveyor immediately adjacent to the last position on the 1st Chuck line, metal guards were hung by pegs and were not affixed to the conveyors, exposing employees to ingoing nip points presented by the blue plastic conveyor belt as it passed over the pulley.       c) In the Boning area on the overhead discard conveyor immediately adjacent to the Sorting positions, metal guards were hung by pegs and were not affixed to the conveyors, exposing employees to ingoing nip points presented by the blue plastic conveyor belt as it passed over the pulley.   d) In the Boning area on the inclined conveyor between the Chuck lines and Round/Loin lines, metal guards were hung by pegs and were not affixed to the conveyors, exposing employees walking under the conveyor to access/egress their workstation at the 2nd Chuck and Round lines to ingoing nip points presented by the white plastic conveyor as it ran over and under pulleys.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,822 · Current $5,729 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.215(b)(9):  Safety guards of the types described in Subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this paragraph, where the operator stands in front of the opening, shall be constructed so that the peripheral protecting member can be adjusted to the constantly decreasing diameter of the wheel. The maximum angular exposure above the horizontal plane of the wheel spindle as specified in paragraphs (b)(3) and (4) of this section shall never be exceeded, and the distance between the wheel periphery and the adjustable tongue or the end of the peripheral member at the top shall never exceed one-fourth inch:   On January 26, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the distance between the wheel periphery and the adjustable tongue on bench grinders exceeded one-fourth of an inch, exposing employees to struck-by hazards:  a) In MT-1 maintenance shop on a DeWalt bench grinder.  b) In MT-3 maintenance shop on a Jet bench grinder.    c) In MT-4 maintenance shop on a Dayton grinder.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $9,822 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(c)(2)(i):  All exposed parts of horizontal shafting seven (7) feet or less from floor or working platform, excepting runways used exclusively for oiling, or running adjustments, shall be protected by a stationary casing enclosing shafting completely or by a trough enclosing sides and top or sides and bottom of shafting as location requires:  On or about January 25, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; multiple exposed horizontal shafts less than seven feet above the floor were not protected with a casing or other enclosure around the tops, sides, or bottoms of the shafts.  RTE-3 contained part Lines 7, 6, and 5 each of which had a palletizing station. Conveyors for those palletizing stations were powered by motors turning pulleys located just after the Douglas boxing machine of each line and immediately adjacent to the palletizing station of each line. The unenclosed horizontal shafts exposed employees to entanglement hazards.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.219(c)(4)(i):  Projecting shaft ends shall present a smooth edge and end and shall not project more than one-half the diameter of the shaft unless guarded by nonrotating caps or safety sleeves:  On or about January 25, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; projecting shaft ends, which projected more than one-half the diameter of the shaft, were not guarded by a nonrotating cap or safety sleeve. In RTE-3, at the Drake machines near the heads of Line 7a and 7b, shaft ends projected out more than one-half their diameter and were not guarded by a nonrotating cap or safety sleeve. Employees were exposed to the rotating shaft ends, while working at the machines' control panels, which posed caught-on hazards.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,822 · Current $5,729 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.303(b)(2):  Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling:  On or about March 14, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI: extension cords and relocatable power taps (RPTs or power strips) in the Fresh Kitchen packaging areas were not used in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling of the equipment. Carts containing package labeling equipment had power strips zip tied to them to provide power to the label printers. Extension cords were used to connect (or "daisy chain") the power strips to a pendant outlet near the stretchwrapper machines.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,366 · Current $5,729 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(B):  Unless specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords and cables may not be used where run through holes in walls, ceilings, or floors:  On or about January 26, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; a flexible cord was run from inside the MT-1 maintenance shop, though a hole in the concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall, and outside to power heat tape in the roof's gutters.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $5,729 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.242(b):  Compressed air shall not be used for cleaning purposes except where reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment:  On or about January 26, 2023, at a facility located 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI;  compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:  a) In the MT-2 maintenance shop, a compressed air gun was not equipped with a pressure reducing nozzle and was operating at 85 p.s.i.        b) In the MT-4 maintenance shop, a compressed air gun was not equipped with a pressure reducing nozzle and was operating at approximately 85 p.s.i.

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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.  At a facility located at 502 E. Linden Street in Abbotsford, WI; the workplace contained permit required confined spaces. The employer did not inform employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by permit spaces including, but not limited to the following:  a) On or about January 25, 2023, the freezer located in Fresh Kitchen on the Brat line  b) On or about January 27, 2023, the Spiral freezer located in RTE-3  c) On or about December 14, 2022, the Double D1 oven located in Forming  d) On or about January 27, 2023, the FMC and Double D1 freezers located in RTE-2

Issued

Jun 5, 2023

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(5)(ii)(D):  Lockout devices and tagout devices shall indicate the identity of the employee applying the device(s).   On or about January 27, 2023, at a facility located at 502 E Linden St, Abbotsford, WI; a Forming employee was performing setup operations on an MP800 on the IR line with a lock and tag that were not identifiable to themselves.