OSHA Inspection: ROYAL PACKAGING, LLC

Issued

Jun 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,875 · Current $3,438 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(1): 29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that all places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.   a) Packing Line #2: Explosive wheat starch dust with a Kst of 28.70 bar meter/second, measuring greater than 1/32 inch thickness, accumulated on and around sifting processing equipment, electrical outlet, on the platform railings, ducts, and an electrical panel box, of the packing room. The employer did not ensure that the work area was kept free of dust accumulations from processing equipment, and electrical equipment, thus exposing employees to a fire and explosion hazard, on or about 12/16/22.

Issued

Jun 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E101E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(2):  The employer did not ensure that the  floor of each workroom is maintained in a clean and, to the extent feasible, in a dry condition. The employer did not ensure that when wet processes are used, drainage is be maintained and, to the extent feasible, dry standing places, such as false floors, platforms, and mats are provided:   a) Packing Line #2: Explosive wheat starch dust with a Kst of 28.70 bar meter/second, measuring greater than 1/32 inch thickness, accumulated on the floor of the packing room. The employer did not ensure that the work area was kept free of accumulations of fugitive dust from processing equipment, thus exposing employees to a fire and explosion hazard, on or about 12/16/22.

Issued

Jun 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,156 · Current $2,578 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.145(c)(3): Safety instruction sign(s) were not used where there was a need for general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measure(s):  a) Packing Room #2 (Wheat Starch): The employer did not post signage, alerting employees of general instructions and suggestions relative to combustible dust hazards, on or about 12/16/22.

Issued

Jun 12, 2023

Abate by

Jun 30, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,595 · Current $4,298 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(c)(2)(vi)(a): The employer did not provide powered industrial trucks designated as EX for use in an atmosphere in which combustible dust is or may be in suspension continuously, intermittently, or periodically under normal operating conditions, in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures, or where mechanical failure or abnormal operation of machinery or equipment might cause such mixtures to be produced:  a) Facility-Wide: Employees were operating a Crown propane powered forklift truck, in a Class II, Division 1 location, in an area where explosive wheat starch was packaged. The wheat starch has a Kst= 28.70 bar*meters/second, which is a Class II dust and explosive. The employer did not ensure that approved powered industrial trucks, designated as EX, was used in an atmosphere that contain explosive dust, on or about 12/16/22.

Issued

Jun 12, 2023

Abate by

Jul 10, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,031 · Current $6,016 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.307(c): Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations were not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:  a) Packing Line #2 (Wheat Starch): A motor fan which powers an augur, electrical outlet, propane powered forklift truck, and an electrical disconnect switch box, located in a Class II, Division 1, location, were not intrinsically safe, and approved for a Class II, Division 1 location, on or about 12/16/22.

Issued

Jun 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,156 · Current $2,578 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200M110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  a) Facility-Wide: Employees were working with hazardous chemicals and substances, including, but not limited to, corn starch, tapioca starch, and wheat starch. Test results show that wheat starch has a Kst = 28.70 bar* meters/second, which is a Class II dust and is explosive. The employer did not develop and implement a written hazard communication program, on or about 12/16/22.

Issued

Jun 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E101E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  a) Facility-Wide: Employees are required to work with hazardous chemicals and combustible dust substances, including, but not limited to, corn starch, wheat starch, and tapioca starch. The employer did not provide training on the safe methods to follow when working with hazardous chemicals and substances, at the time of initial hire, on or about 12/16/22.

Issued

Jun 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:  a) Facility-Wide: Employees are required to work with hazardous chemicals and combustible dust substances, including, but not limited to, corn starch, wheat starch, and tapioca starch. The employer did not provide training on the physical and health hazards associated with combustible starch dust, on or about 12/16/22.