OSHA Inspection: SMITHFIELD FRESH MEATS CORP.

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,349 · Current $5,844 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(d)(2)(vi): The employer did not perform additional monitoring when there had been a change in the production process, raw materials, equipment, personnel, work practices, or control methods that resulted or may have resulted in new or additional exposures to chromium (VI), or when the employer had any reason to believe that new or additional exposures had occurred:  On or about February 9, 2023, employees performing welding and plasma cutting operations in the fabrication shop were exposed to chromium (VI) and the employer did not perform additional monitoring when there were personnel changes.

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Abate by

Aug 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,349 · Current $5,844 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(k)(1)(i)(A): The employer did not make medical surveillance available for all employees who were or could be occupationally exposed to chromium (VI) at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year:  On or about February 9, 2023, employees performing welding and plasma cutting operations in the fabrication shop were exposed to chromium (VI) at or above the action level (personal air monitoring results 3.4 mg/ m3 conducted on 4/28/2023) and were not provided the opportunity for medical surveillance.

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,349 · Current $5,844 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(2)(ii): The employer did not provide information to the employees on operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals were present:  On or about February 9, 2023, employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals, including, but not limited to, hexavalent chromium and the employer had not conducted training over those hazardous chemicals.   Employees shall be informed of:  1. The requirements of this section;  2. Any operation in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present;  3. The location and availability of the written hazard communication program.   Employee training shall include at least:  1. Methods and observations to detect the presence/release of a hazardous chemical;  2. The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area;  3. The measures employees can take to protect themselves;  4. The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer.

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:  On or about February 9, 2023, employees welding on the processing floor and in the fabrication area were voluntarily wearing tight-fitting elastomeric respirators and the employer had not provided advisory information contained in Appendix D before use.

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(j)(2)(i): The employer did not ensure that surfaces contaminated with chromium (VI) were cleaned by high efficiency particulate air-filtered vacuuming or other methods that minimized the likelihood of exposure to chromium (VI):  On or about February 9, 2023, employees  performing welding and plasma cutting operations in the fabrication shop were exposed to chromium (VI) on surfaces and employer had not ensured surfaces were cleaned with high efficiency particulate air-filtering vacuuming or other methods that minimized the likelihood of exposure.